Ky Lt. Gov. Coleman Announces $2 Million in Cleaner Water Program Funding for Carroll, Gallatin, Grant and Pendleton Counties

This funding will help with 11 projects in the four counties.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. (Feb. 23, 2022) – Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman awarded $2,172,676 in funding to Carroll, Gallatin, Grant and Pendleton counties. The funding comes through Gov. Andy Beshear’s Cleaner Water Program.

“Kentucky families deserve clean water – a basic human right – as well as access to safe and well-maintained roads, educational opportunities and support when they need help,” said Gov. Beshear. “Today’s investments show what we can accomplish when we put our values into action.”

“Investments in infrastructure, like high-speed internet, clean water, roads and bridges provide Kentucky a solid foundation for building tomorrow’s economy, today,” said Lt. Gov. Coleman.

As part of Gov. Beshear’s Better Kentucky Plan, the Cleaner Water Program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and administered by the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA). $250 million was appropriated at the close of the 2021 General Assembly through a bipartisan agreement for clean drinking water and wastewater grants to fund projects across Kentucky.

The Northern Kentucky Area Development District submitted the funding requests for these projects to the KIA.

Carroll County

• $190,435 was awarded to the Carroll County Water District to replace a pump and construct a new pumping station.
• $200,000 was awarded to Carroll County Fiscal Court to replace 1,600 feet of water lines and improve service.

“Carroll County is pleased to receive these grant funds for water and sewer projects,” said Judge/Executive Harold Tomlinson. “They will go a long way toward assisting with infrastructure needs throughout the county.”

“We serve portions of three counties. We are thankful that the governor and members of the General Assembly funded this program under SB 36 and grateful that the Carroll County Judge and Fiscal Court gave a portion to contribute to this great water improvement project,” said Obe D. Cox, Manager of Carroll County Water District. “The project will impact all of our customers in a positive way. The proposed project will provide more production from our existing well fields and at a lower energy cost. This will enhance water flow capacity for our industrials that are continuing to grow, while creating more water storage for our rural residential customers in all counties.”

Gallatin County

• $116,823 was awarded to Gallatin County Water District to increase sewer capacity to service industrial areas.
• $100,000 was awarded to the City of Warsaw for the U.S. 42 sewer extension.
• $45,100 was awarded to Carrollton Utilities for upgrades at the Sparta Pump Station.
• $63,800 was awarded to the City of Carrollton to purchase two new pumps.

“I just want to say that this money will make these projects possible,” said Judge/Executive Ryan Morris. “Without the money, we would not be able to do the upgrades.”

Grant County

• $115,085 was awarded to Bullock Pen Water District to design a new water treatment plant.
• $155,085 was awarded to Corinth Water District for the restoration of the Stringtown tank.
• $75,085 was awarded to the City of Corinth for the restoration of a water treatment plant.
• $230,170 was awarded to the City of Dry Ridge for repairs to the E-Z Street Tank.
• $115,085 was awarded to Grant County Sanitary Sewer District for wastewater treatment plant upgrade.
• $230,175 was awarded to the City of Williamstown to replace the Humes Ridge water tank.

“The City of Williamstown is honored to accept this grant and look forward to extending our water and wastewater lines on Conrad Lane, said Rick Skinner, mayor of Williamstown. “The expansion will open up 536 acres for development and will also serve our newly created light industrial park. The Governor and legislators see the big picture for Kentucky and we are excited to be a part of such an exciting time in Kentucky.”

“On behalf of Grant County, we are extremely grateful for the Cleaner Water Program funds to assist our cities and water/waste districts to have the funding abilities to continue building needed infrastructure for our county,” said Judge/Executive Chuck Dills.

Pendleton County

• $133,959 was awarded to Pendleton County Water District to extend service to five unserved families.
• $133,958 was awarded to East Pendleton Water District for a new pump station and sewer lines for 55 families.
• $133,958 was awarded to the City of Falmouth for the New Hope pump station project.
• $133,958 was awarded to the City of Butler to install water lines along Peoples Street and Williams Street.

“We are very appreciative of the ARPA funds awarded to the different entities of Pendleton County,” said Judge/Executive David Fields. “These funds will greatly assist in completing water and sewer projects for Pendleton Water, East Pendleton Water, City of Falmouth and City of Butler and the citizens therein.” 

About the Cleaner Water Program

More than $106 million has been awarded to grantees to fund transformative projects since the call for projects was announced June 1. Eligible government agencies, such as city-owned water or sewer utilities, water commissions, water and sewer districts and counties, collaborated with their local Area Development Districts and Area Water Management Councils to submit projects for Cleaner Water Program funding. There are 713 public drinking water and wastewater utilities in Kentucky.

Cleaner Water program funding is allocated in three ways:

• $150 million based on each county’s proportion of the state’s population, with the exception of Jefferson County’s share, which is discounted by 50% based on its high per capita allocation from the federal act. A list of the allocations by county can be found here.

• $50 million is available for utilities to provide drinking water services to unserved, rural customers or to utilities under a federal consent decree. The KIA shall consider social, economic and environmental benefits in determining the allocations.
• $49.9 million is available to supplement a project grant for a project with a cost in excess of a county’s allocation amount and other available grant sources. The social, economic and environmental benefits shall be considered in determining project allocations. KIA will receive $75,000 to administer the grant program.

The American Society of Civil Engineers in 2019 projected that Kentucky faces nearly $14.5 billion in water/wastewater infrastructure needs over the next 20 years, including over $8.2 billion in drinking water upgrades and $6.2 billion in sewer system improvements.

Information about the Cleaner Water Program, as well as grants for high-speed internet expansion, school facility upgrades and vocational education center renovations, can be found at governor.ky.gov/BetterKy.

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