Bluegrass Times

MAYSVILLE, Ky.  – On June 14, Gov. Andy Beshear announced $2,134,940 in funding that will create safer, healthier spaces for Mason County families to enjoy and promote tourism in the area.

“When we talk about building a better Kentucky, we are talking about supporting the wellbeing of our people in all areas of their lives,” said Gov. Beshear. “These awards we announced today will help create safer and healthier spaces that our Kentucky families can enjoy and increase tourism in the community.”

“We in the legislature take pride in supporting our local communities, and I am honored to see our efforts benefit my hometown of Maysville,” said Rep. William Lawrence of Maysville. “These awards are going to substantially benefit the lives of our town by encouraging exercise and removing toxins from the Hayswood Hospital building. These awards are a symbol of the responsible and common-sense government policy we in the legislature advocate for.”

“We greatly appreciate Gov. Beshear’s administration for today’s funding award announcements. Today’s awards highlight impactful projects across Maysville and Mason County, from our Frontier Housing Hayswood Hospital award that represents a solution to a decades-old problem, to new recreational options in our Cummins Nature Preserve and Boys and Girls Club trails,” said Mason County Judge/Executive Owen McNeill. “Today’s awards highlight the growing momentum we’re seeing across Maysville and Mason County and underscores the unlimited potential garnered from an aligned team working together.”

Brownfield Cleanup Grants

Gov. Beshear recapped his announcement that Frontier Housing Inc. plans to use $1,999,900 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean and assess the former Hayswood Hospital building in Maysville of known contamination and prepare it for redevelopment. Frontier Housing, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing, plans to renovate the building into a residential space.

“We are honored to be partnering with Mayor Cotterill, Judge McNeil and the staffs of the city, county, Buffalo Trace Area Development District and the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection to make this happen,” said Frontier Housing President and CEO Tom Manning-Beavin. “This is only possible because we are all working together. We look forward to making the Hayswood Hospital building a proud community asset once again.”

Land and Water Conservation Fund

The Governor awarded $75,000 to Mason County to construct a half-mile looped mountain biking path with a wood plank fence on the top of the Cummins Nature Preserve, as well as a second trail at the entrance of the preserve.  

“On behalf of the Mason County Fiscal Court and Cummins Nature Preserve, I want to thank Gov. Beshear and the Buffalo Trace Land Development committee for the opportunity to construct our Mountain Bike Path in Maysville,” said Cummins Nature Preserve Manager Grant Felice. “The uniqueness of this facility will benefit our families and children, bring visitors to our town and be a regional tourism draw that benefits local commerce in our community.”

Gov. Beshear also awarded $60,040 to the City of Maysville to construct a 0.91-mile trail around the perimeter of the Tom Browning Boys and Girls Club.

“The Tom Browning Boys and Girls Club is honored and privileged to partner with the City of Maysville to enhance our community with a new walking trail,” said Tom Browning Boys and Girls Club Director Caitlyn Waddell. “Not only is this a huge win for the citizens of our community, but we are also excited to create a new opportunity for the members of the Tom Browning Boys and Girls Club to be physically active outside of our clubhouse.”

The federally funded Land and Water Conservation Fund has allotted $3.9 million to communities across Kentucky for a wide variety of outdoor, health-related improvements, including the renovation or replacement of playground equipment, construction of walking paths and bringing recreational facilities into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. To receive the federal funds, which are administered at the state level by the Department for Local Government, selected applicants must undergo federal review and receive approval from the National Park Service.

Tourism Marketing Funding

The Governor awarded $60,000 to the Maysville-Mason County Convention and Visitors Bureau to support travel marketing and promotion and attract meetings and conventions. The award is part of the $75 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fundingannounced by the Governor in July to boost the state’s tourism industry and economy following the pandemic. The funds are distributed by the Kentucky Department of Tourism to eligible tourism organizations throughout the commonwealth.

“The Maysville-Mason County Convention and Visitors Bureau would like to thank Governor Beshear and the Kentucky General Assembly for these additional ARPA funds,” said Katelyn Bailey, executive director of the Maysville-Mason County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This investment will be used to promote Maysville’s iconic Cox Building, built in 1886 as a Masonic Temple, as a destination for future conventions, meetings and events.”

Original source can be found here.