Madison County may 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 Madison 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.

Madison County may submit an application to the state to compete against other cities and counties for some portion of this money.  o encourage the county to apply and voice your opinion about how the funds should be spent, contact Kent Clark, the Madison County Judge Executive in Richmond at (859) 624-4700.

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 Foothills Community Action Partnership, which serves Clark, Madison, Estill and Powell Counties, 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 apply to your local agency office, 123 Pine Street in Richmond, (859) 623-6514.

To voice your opinion on how the weatherization dollars can best serve Madison County, contact Mark Brandenburg, weatherization program director at (606) 663-6905. To get more involved at the state level, contact our High Road Organizer, Martin Richards, as KFTC is a CEC program partner.

$145,600

Richmond in Madison County will receive $145,600 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. 

Richmond must submit a plan that details how the money will be spent by June 26th. Currently, the city is thinking about using the money to improve the energy efficiency of street lamps. Voice your comments about how you think the money should be used at the public hearing in June or to Mike Russell at (859) 623-1000 ext. 2002.

Madison County or smaller cities within the county may choose to apply for state funds from this money later this year. To encourage the county to apply and voice your opinion about how the funds should be spent, contact Kent Clark, the Madison County Judge Executive in Richmond at (859) 624-4700.

$1.68 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. They can be used to re-tool local communities with the skills needed for a green economy. 

The way your workforce investment board intends to spend the stimulus funds can be found online by clicking here.  Voice your opinion on this plan by contacting the Bluegrass Workforce Investment Board in the Madison County office in Richmond at (859) 624-2564.

The Bluegrass WIB serves Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Nicholas, Powell, Scott and Woodford Counties.

The state 2-year highway infrastructure plan includes spending $910,000 of stimulus funds in Madison 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 Madison County, this money will go towards construction at the intersection of US-25 at KY-1156. To comment on this project, contact the Highway District 7 office at (859) 246-2355.

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.