KENTUCKY — Gov. Andy Beshear on Tuesday announced over $32 million in a new round of funding from the Cleaner Water Program to support infrastructure projects across 19 Kentucky counties.

The 75 projects supported will improve clean drinking water access in Bell, Breckinridge, Breathitt, Clay, Grayson, Hardin, Harlan, Jackson, Knott, Knox, Larue, Laurel, Madison, Meade, Morgan, Powell, Rockcastle, Whitley and Woodford counties, Beshear said in a news release.

With Tuesday's announcement, all 120 Kentucky counties have now received funding from the program, and a total of $500 million has been allocated.

“As Governor, and also as a dad, I want to make sure all of our families can turn on their faucets and know that water is safe to give their children,” Beshear said. “That is why I worked with lawmakers to launch the Cleaner Water Program. I want to thank lawmakers for their partnership and support."

Approximately 511 unserved households and 7,863 underserved households will benefit from water and sewer line projects, Beshear said. Water and wastewater treatment plants or water tank projects will also benefit local Kentucky families, while boosting infrastructure and fueling economic growth. 

The funding comes from Kentucky's Cleaner Water Program, which is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and administered by the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority. Through a bipartisan agreement with the General Assembly, $500 million has been appropriated to provide clean drinking water and wastewater grants to fund projects in all 120 counties since 2021.

Tuesday's $32 million rounds out the $250 million allocation for round two. The funding is being allocated based on each county’s proportion of the state’s population, with the exception of Jefferson County’s share, which is discounted by 50% based on its high per capita allocation from the federal act. As the project progresses, the utility will be reimbursed by Cleaner Water Program funds