For
Immediate Release
October 4, 2002
Contact:
Channell Barbour (502) 564-2611 or
Kim Lyon, KY Housing Corporation, (502) 564-4582
Frankfort, KY - During the Kentucky League of Cities annual convention today, twenty-six Kentucky communities received Renaissance Kentucky designation.
Renaissance Kentucky, a program launched by Governor Paul Patton in 1997, now has 98 participating communities across the Commonwealth. “The goal of Renaissance Kentucky is to recognize and honor communities that have maintained or restored their central downtown areas as safe, efficient and functional urban cores,” said Gov. Patton.
Additionally, the program provides support and technical assistance with the development of strategies for those communities that want to improve their downtowns. Communities receive state and federal funding opportunities for such projects as façade improvements, infrastructure planning and utility relocation. The concept of Renaissance is to redevelop downtowns to attract more retail, business, housing and entertainment centers.
Communities are divided into tiers – bronze, silver and gold – according to criteria met upon application. The program encourages communities to reach the highest level possible by providing more funding opportunities to those in the silver and gold levels. Opportunities for advancement are offered periodically.
The new communities receiving bronze designation are Augusta, Barbourville, Beattyville, Campton, Elkhorn City, Fulton, Grayson, Greenup, Manchester, Munfordville, Providence, Salyersville, Tompkinsville, Warsaw and West Point. Receiving silver Renaissance designation are Campbellsville, Columbia, Elkton, Guthrie, Hazard, Hindman, LaGrange, Lexington, New Castle, Scottsville and Trenton.
Renaissance is administered by an alliance of agencies that includes Kentucky Heritage Council, Kentucky Housing Corporation, Kentucky League of Cities, Kentucky Department for Local Government, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati and Fannie Mae. The program also brings together the full capacity of state government through representation of all executive branch cabinets.
“In order to qualify and subsequently advance in the program,” said Lynn Luallen, Renaissance Kentucky Alliance Chairman, “there must be a strong commitment by the community’s leaders that reflects the goals of preservation, rehabilitation or restoration of their downtowns as active and vital centers.”
For more information about Renaissance Kentucky, call Penny Young, Renaissance Kentucky Director at Kentucky Housing Corporation, (502) 564-7630, extension 305, or e-mail Pyoung@kyhousing.org.
-30-