Contact: Ricki Clark
Kentucky Department for Local Government
502/573-2382 

For Immediate Release
Statewide 

Frankfort, Ky. (August 3, 2001) – Gov. Paul Patton has announced the latest recipient of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in the amount of $360,000 for the Maker’s Mark Expansion Project.

The Department for Local Government (DLG) administers the CDBG program in Kentucky.

The Maker’s Mark Distillery plans to invest $8 million in the expansion of their bottling operation in Loretto, doubling the yearly output to 1.4 million cases. The expansion also will result in the creation of 18 additional jobs.

These funds will be used to provide water service to the site of the expansion. The Marion County Water District will reconstruct about three miles of four- and six-inch water lines and construct a 100,000-gallon water storage tank to meet the capacity needs of the area.

Gov. Patton said, “While we are always working to recruit new business and industry to Kentucky, we jump at the chance to help an existing business that has provided employment and economic security for Kentuckians.”

DLG Commissioner Jody Lassiter said, “The investment of CDBG dollars into this business expansion is an example of good government by providing funds to a proven business so that business can offer good paying jobs to Kentuckians. DLG is proud to be a partner with Marion County and Maker’s Mark Distillery, a business that gives Kentucky a sense of history, too.”

These funds are made available by DLG through the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development. DLG administers the CDBG Small Cities program in Kentucky, which makes funding available to eligible cities and counties for community development activities.

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