Award will fund construction of a gravity sewer main to new wastewater treatment plant

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 20, 2021) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear awarded $1.8 million to Shelby County, the first recipient to receive funding from the Better Kentucky Plan’s $250 million Cleaner Water Program.

The program will deliver clean drinking water and improve water and sewer systems across the state, creating approximately 3,800 jobs.

The Shelbyville Municipal Water and Sewer Commission will use the funding to construct a new 36-inch gravity sewer main to the new Shelbyville Wastewater Treatment Plant. The new sewer main will replace two sewage pumping stations, one of which is at capacity and is prone to sanitary sewer overflows caused by heavy rain.

“The Shelbyville area has experienced considerable growth in recent years and the western area, served by the Shelbyville Municipal Water and Sewer Commission, is an attractive location for businesses and industries looking to expand,” Beshear said. “Eliminating the underperforming pump stations in Shelbyville’s industrial park area with a new sewer main will ensure that citizens and businesses have reliable and operational water systems for years to come.”

At a meeting of the Shelby County Water Management Council, members unanimously agreed to direct their entire $1.8 million county allocation to the Shelbyville project.

“Shelbyville’s existing wastewater treatment plant is nearing 90 percent capacity and a second treatment plant is under design with construction to be complete in 2023,” Shelby County Judge/Executive Dan Ison said. “This new sewer main is necessary to get sewage to the new plant while avoiding sewage overflows. We’re grateful for the funds and know they will be put to good use with this project.”

The Kentucky Regional Planning and Development Agency submitted the funding request to the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA), the agency responsible for administering the $250 million Cleaner Water Program.

Cleaner Water Program funding will be allocated in three ways:

• $150 million will be allocated 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 grants to 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 grants for projects 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.

A call for Cleaner Water Program funding requests launched June 1, 2021.

Water Resource coordinators, representing Kentucky’s 15 Area Development Districts and Area Water Management Councils, may submit project profiles through the Water Resource Information System  portal to indicate interest in funding from the Cleaner Water Program. Eligible government agencies, such as city-owned water or sewer utilities, water commissions, water and sewer districts and counties, may collaborate with a coordinator and council to submit a project. The application and award process will be ongoing throughout 2021 until all funding is committed.

Information about the Better Kentucky Plan, including the Cleaner Water Program, as well as grants for broadband expansion, school facility upgrades and vocational education center renovations, can be found at https://governor.ky.gov/BetterKy/.

The Better Kentucky Plan adds to recent economic momentum in the commonwealth, as the state builds back stronger following the effects of the pandemic.

More Information
Read about other key updates, actions and information from Gov. Beshear and his administration at governor.ky.gov and the state’s response to COVID-19 at kycovid19.ky.gov.