Gov. Beshear Announces $6 Million To Build 20 Homes in Breathitt County

Houses will be in the city of Jackson and available for flood survivors

JACKSON, Ky. (July 26, 2024) - Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced an award of $6 million to the city of Jackson to build 20 homes for flood survivors. The city is partnering with the Housing Development Alliance to build these new homes.

"We're here to honor the two-year anniversary of the devastating floods of 2022," said Gov. Andy Beshear. "Breathitt County and Jackson have been through a lot, after being hit by flooding in both 2021 and 2022. We made a promise to stand with the people of Breathitt County, and Eastern Kentucky, until every structure, home and life is rebuilt, and we're keeping our promise."

The 20 homes will be located at 2271 Highway 30 West in Jackson. The property has space for the construction of additional homes in the future. The funding comes from Kentucky's Disaster Recovery Program.

"Today we are celebrating another milestone in our recovery process," said Jackson Mayor Laura Thomas. "The city of Jackson has been working alongside the state for a long time to make today possible, and we have more good news on the horizon."

Funding from Kentucky's Disaster Recovery Program is supporting the following projects that have been announced in Breathitt County:

• Last year, Gov. Beshear presented $538,125 to the city of Jackson to rehabilitate two apartments at the Jackson Federal Place Apartment Complex that were damaged in the 2022 floods. The money was also to be used to replace the only elevator in the building, which was damaged in the floods.
• In March, Gov. Beshear awarded $2.3 million to the city of Jackson to build eight homes for flood survivors.
• The city of Jackson has also been allocated $1.5 million in infrastructure funding for future housing development projects.

Visit To Mark Two-Year Anniversary of Eastern Kentucky Flooding
The Governor provided an update on Thursday regarding recovery and rebuilding efforts in Eastern Kentucky as we approach the two-year anniversary of the devastating floods. Progress includes:

• FEMA has approved Individual Assistance for 8,775 survivors, totaling more than $110.5 million under the Individual and Households Program.
• FEMA has provided over $84.7 million to acquire over 500 homes and help families move out of flood-prone areas in five counties.
• 138 bridges have been either repaired or replaced.
• $297 million has been secured in federal disaster recovery funds to help areas rebuild.
• The Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund has raised more than $13.4 million from over 41,500 donors. The fund paid the funeral expenses of the Kentuckians we lost, provided immediate relief payments directly to individuals who suffered property damage and is now being used to rebuild and repair homes with nonprofit partners.
• The Governor has announced seven high-ground communities in four counties that will bring over 500 new homes to the area.

Gov. Beshear and Lt. Gov. Coleman traveled to Breathitt, Floyd and Perry counties today, with two stops in Knott County, at Leburn and Hindman, to observe progress at new high-ground communities, note improvements to infrastructure, announce new funding and an additional project to build more homes, and mourn those Kentuckians lost in the devastating flooding that occurred two years ago.

In Wayland, in Floyd County, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor joined Appalachia Service Project to celebrate new homes and new beginnings for 11 families of flood survivors and announced that more new homes are on the way. Click here to learn more about the visit and progress being made at new high-ground communities in Eastern Kentucky.

Gov. Beshear and Lt. Gov. Coleman stopped in Floyd County to check on the progress of the Chestnut Ridge high-ground community in Leburn and to pay their respects during a moment of silence at a memorial erected in Hindman last summer in remembrance of those Knott Countians who died in the flooding.

This afternoon, they joined local officials in Perry County to celebrate the progress being made on the first phase of road construction to widen and improve a half-mile portion of Skyview Lane, making way for contractors to safely access the Skyview high-ground community near Hazard and begin site preparation for the future housing development.

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Editor's note: Click here for photos from the event in Breathitt County.

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