MAYFIELD, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., has confirmed a $31.5 million grant will help rebuild downtown Mayfield, which was damaged by an EF4 tornado Dec. 10, 2021.
Two and a half years ago, more than 400 structures were destroyed and 24 Mayfield residents lost their lives as a result of the tornado outbreak. Mayfield Mayor Kathy Stewart O’Nan met with President Joe Biden in the aftermath. At the time, O’Nan said the city was unrecognizable, but that didn’t stop their optimism of rebuilding Mayfield.
“It took so much from us," O'Nan said. "It took all of our municipal buildings; it took seven churches, but what it didn’t take was this resiliency and determination of the people of Mayfield to rebuild this town they love so much.”
Known as the RAISE grant, $31.5 million in state and federal funding will go toward improving driver and pedestrian safety and clean water systems, replacing trees lost in the disaster and will build accessible routes to buildings for those with disabilities.
“We want to be able to ride our bikes; we want to be able to walk," O'Nan said. "We want a downtown that attracts us as pedestrians and that is conducive to a lifestyle of not only economic functionality but enjoyable living.”
While that grant will help rebuild downtown, a nonprofit known as the Hope Initiative has helped rebuild more than 40 homes in different neighborhoods.
Stephen Boyken, founder of the Hope Initiative, said that number will continue growing until at least 54 homes are built.
“We may continue to build past that and ultimately will continue to provide hope, build hope, in the years to come," Boyken said.
More than $6 million of that $31 million grant is coming from state funding. Beshear also announced in June that $223 million will go toward 953 rental units in affected western Kentucky areas.