Jefferson County / Louisville Metro will receive more than $50 million dollars over the next two years from the federal stimulus package. This money could be used to change the course of the local economy, steering it towards a more sustainable energy future that offers good green jobs. Check out the Louisville Metro recovery website.

Find out how you can voice your opinion about the way Jefferson county intends to use this money below or download this one-page pdf handout with the same information.

A portion of $50.7 million

The Governor  released an outline of the way that State Energy Plan funds will be used on May 21st.  Click here to read the press release - which also contains a link to the fact sheet and summary of SEP money.  The federal goals for state energy plan (SEP) funds include reducing the environmental impacts of energy use and production and enhancing energy efficiency/renewable energy. There are opportunities in the plan for industries, businesses, institutions, and localities (cities and counties) to apply for money to improve energy efficiency.  As more information becomes available about those opportunities, it will be published on this page.

Approximately $5 million

These funds must be used to improve the energy efficiency of rental and owner-occupied housing of families living at 200% of poverty level or below.  This means that a family of four who earns about $42,400 or less qualifies to have their home or apartment rehabbed.

This money will be granted to the Louisville Metro Community Action Partnership through a state program called the Clean Energy Corps (CEC).

To apply for assistance, click here and follow the link to email Jim Christian at Community Action Kentucky or call 1-(800)-456-3452 or sign up at one of the Louisville Metro CAP offices.  Find these locations by calling (502) 574-1157.

To voice your opinion on how the weatherization dollars can best serve Jefferson County, contact Louisville Metro Community Action Partnership at (502) 574-1157. To get more involved at the state level, contact our High Road Organizer, Martin Richards, as KFTC is a CEC program partner.

$7 million

Louisville Metro government will receive $7 million directly from the federal government under this block grant and may apply for additional state funds.  The money is supposed to be used for programs that reduce fossil fuel use in sustainable ways, reduce energy use, and improve the energy efficiency of buildings or transportation systems.  Some the funds may be granted to local non-profit agencies and community groups in order to assist in the local implementation strategy.   Louisville Metro must submit a plan that details how the money will be spent by June 26th. Send your comments about how you think it should be used to the Economic Development and Energy Efficiency team by that date.  Click here and scroll down the page to find the email link for this team.

$3.7 million in direct funding and more money through statewide programs

These funds are supposed to help train and educate Kentucky's workforce, including youth and those currently unemployed. It can be used to re-tool local communities with the skills needed for a green economy.  Some of the money will be directed by the Governor and the rest will be divided up among 10 workforce investment boards (WIB) across the state. Each board will submit a locally based spending plan to the state. 

Voice your opinion about how your community can best use these funds by contacting the Greater Louisville Workforce Investment board, which serves Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties, at (502) 574-2500.

$41 million to the Louisville region

$41 million was granted to the Louisville area directly from the federal government.  Some of the money has to be used for projects that enhance bike and walking paths. The Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency (KIPDA) is in charge of overseeing this money and have already compiled a list of approved projects to fund.  The local project list is available online. Direct comments about it to KIPDA's Josh Suiter at (502) 266-6084.