Beshear and Rogers announce federal funding projects for Eastern Kentucky revitalization

CORBIN, Ky. — While Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers and Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear disagreed on how President Donald Trump’s policies are impacting Appalachian Kentucky, the two came together Friday to announce money going toward economic development in the region. 

At the annual Shaping Our Appalachia Region Summit in Corbin, Rogers and Beshear announced $22 million federal funding to support various services in Eastern Kentucky, like healthcare, emergency services, infrastructure for economic development projects and more. 

Beshear said in his remarks that because of Trump’s “war choice in Iran and his foreign tariffs are causing prices to skyrocket.” The governor also emphasized his past criticism of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which he said would close rural hospitals and end coverage for 250,000 Kentuckians if federal Medicaid funding is cut. 

“I’m going to do everything I can to make sure we blunt that very difficult thing that’s headed our way,” Beshear told the crowd, which included state lawmakers, local government officials and more. 

Asked about Beshear’s comments afterwards, Rogers said “of course I stand with the president.”

“That’s the national government,” Rogers continued. “And I’ll let the governor deal with whatever he wants.” 

Rogers founded SOAR in 2013 with the current governor’s father, former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear. In his speech, Rogers said Eastern Kentuckians have come together to find solutions to problems such as rebuilding after floods, a lack of jobs, bolstering education and providing better healthcare. 

“You are making a difference, and you offer great opportunities for people to come and live with us,” Rogers said. 

The $22 million announced Friday comes from the Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program, which Rogers established in 2016. Those projects are: 

• More than $4 million to the Leslie County Fiscal Court to install over 35,000 linear feet of gas line for existing and future businesses. 
• $3.5 million to the City of London Convention and Tourism Commission in Laurel County for infrastructure for the Wilderness Road Event Center.
• $2.9 million for Johnson County Schools to support the nursing and agriculture programs at the Johnson Central Career and Technical Center. 
• $2.76 million to AdventHealth Manchester in Clay County for the hospital to purchase a DaVinci 5 Robotic Surgical System.
• $2.5 million to the Elliott County Fiscal Court to replace the current emergency medical services facility in Sandy Hook with a larger, modernized structure. 
• More than $2.2 million to the City of Cumberland in Harlan County to replace its aging water distribution infrastructure and add new water lines. 
• $2.15 million to Letcher County Water and Sewer District (LCWSD) to install a new waterline and provide water services for the Mountain Comprehensive Health Corp.
• $1.64 million to the City of Booneville in Owsley County for the Sag Hollow Business Development Phase II to expand overnight lodging at the Sag Hollow area through the construction of three executive cabins. 
• $600,000 to the Pike County Fiscal Court to construct a build-ready pad at the Wolfpit Industrial Park.

Rogers and Beshear also highlighted $25.7 million to the Center for Rural Development for six projects to expand high speed internet access across a dozen counties. Beshear previously spoke about that funding on Wednesday during a press conference as part of $78.8 million awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission to Kentucky in fiscal year 2026. 

Courtesy of Kentucky Lantern