For immediate release April 7, 1999
Contact: Melissa Forsythe

Frankfort, Ky.: Twenty-one Kentucky cities that are revitalizing their downtowns today received a total of $8 million from Governor Paul Patton to help them achieve their goals. Those cities are Gold and Silver award winners, selected in September of 1998 for their progress is making a difference in the revival of their downtowns. The Gold and Silver designations made those communities eligible for priority funding from federal and state grants.

Governor Patton said, "We’re pleased to be able to provide this additional investment in communities that are striving to improve the heart of their cities, preserving the past and preparing for the future."

At a news conference in Frankfort, Governor Patton presented the following checks to these cities:

GOLD: Danville, $193,628; Frankfort, $837,000; Harrodsburg, $362,800; Paducah, $837,000; Shelbyville, $407,000.

SILVER: Ashland, (which did not submit any funding request) $44,500; Bowling Green, $244,500; Carrollton, $472,330; Cloverport, $129,021;Dawson Springs, $495, 773; Flemingsburg, $377,888; Henderson, $464,500; Mayfield, $454,500; Maysville, $681,617; Mount Sterling, $53,185; Murray, $464,500; Newport, $494,500; Pikeville, $376,682; Somerset, $355,346; Vine Grove, $44,500; Winchester, $209,230.

The money represents $5 million in federal Transportation Enhancement funds (TE21)from the Federal Highway Administration and $3 million the governor budgeted for Renaissance Kentucky. The communities will use the grants for projects such as sidewalk repair, utility relocation and restoring the facades of downtown buildings. Both grants require a 20 percent match from the communities.

The Kentucky Housing Corporation, Department for Local Government, Kentucky Heritage Council, Transportation Cabinet, and the Kentucky League of Cities are working together to administer Renaissance Kentucky and the money for these improvement efforts in local communities.