Knott County will have access to millions of 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. 

Find out how you can voice your opinion about the way Knott County intends to use this money below.

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.

The Knott County Judge Executive's office may submit an application to the state to compete against other cities and counties for some portion of this money. To voice your opinion about whether the county should apply and how the funds should be spent, contact Randy Thompson, the Knott County Judge Executive, at (606) 785-5592.

$3.4 million regionally

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 improved.

The money will be given to the LKLP Community Action Council, which serves Leslie, Knott, Letcher and Perry counties through a state program called the Clean Energy Corps (CEC).

To apply for weatherization 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 your local agency office, 125 West Main Street, Hindman (606) 785-3322.

To voice your opinion on how the weatherization dollars can best serve Knott County, contact Annie Thompson, the LKLP CAC weatherization program director in the Hazard office, by calling 1-(800)-401-4247 or email her at a.thompson@lklp.net.  To get more involved at the state level, contact our High Road Organizer, Martin Richards, as KFTC is a CEC program partner.

Competitive

$4.2 million in direct funding regionally 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. 

Floyd County's workforce investment board, Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Solution (EKCEP), has posted its spending plan for public comment on the website.  Voice your opinion about how your community can best use these stimulus funds by contacting EKCEP, by calling (606) 436-5751 or emailing comments on the plan at ekcep@ekcep.org.

EKCEP serves Bell, Breathitt, Carter, Clay, Elliott, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Wolfe counties.

$1.5 million

The state 2-year highway infrastructure plan includes spending $1.5 million in stimulus funds in Knott County. The state-spending plan for these funds is based on the Biennial Highway Plan passed this year by the Kentucky legislature. The state will not have a public comment process on the plan. Most planned projects aim to widen highways and build or repair roads. Only a handful of proposed projects will help build a green economy by investing in public transit and pedestrian access.

In Knott County, this money will go towards improving a junction on a road near Knott County Central High School. To comment on this project, contact the Highway District 12 office at (606) 433-7791.

The statewide list of projects by county is available online for review.  Once you click on the link, scroll down to find "Kentucky" and there are four documents available that detail all projects submitted for stimulus funding by county so far.