KENTUCKY — Cities across Kentucky will receive more than $157 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday. The funds will go to more than 360 non-entitlement cities in the state.

The allocations, based on population, will arrive as soon as next week "to offset expenses related to COVID-19, including the costs of personal protective equipment, vaccination clinics, loss of revenue, payroll and more," according to a release from the governor's office.

“Local governments have been important partners in our battle against COVID-19, and we know they have taken on great hardship and expenses to protect our people,” said Beshear. “I’m relieved our eligible city governments will receive these funds, because if we are to build a better Kentucky, we must ensure our communities are supported and positioned for growth.”

The Department for Local Government (DLG) will distribute the funds. Non-entitlement cities, or cities with populations under 50,000 that did not file for a different distinction with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, were required to submit budget certification forms to DLG. Payments have been processed through Kentucky’s accounting system and were expected to be sent to cities Thursday.

Local governments will receive half of their allocation now while the second half arrives between spring and summer of next year. Allocation amounts are available online.