|
Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Gov. Beshear Announces $1 million for New Community Education and Training Center in Sharpsburg
SHARPSBURG, Ky.– Gov. Beshear was joined by local officials today to announce $1 million in combined funding for a new community education and training center for the city of Sharpsburg in Bath County.
The combined funding will be administered by the Department for Local Government (DLG) and includes a $500,000 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant and a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to support construction of the community center.
“Education is the best tool we can give our citizens to better themselves and their communities,” said Gov. Beshear, 2011 states’ ARC co-chair. “This new center in Bath County will provide sufficient technology and academic resources to help community members learn and be better prepared for the 21st century workplace.”
The proposed 9,000 square foot Sharpsburg community center will be constructed at the site of the former Sharpsburg High School and will serve as an overall education and training facility. It will include classroom space for community and adult education courses as well as provide distance learning courses from Maysville Community and Technical College. Additionally, the site will offer branch library services from the Bath County Public Library, a computer lab, a gymnasium and general meeting space for various community programs and events such as work-training sessions for local business employees.
Currently, Sharpsburg citizens must travel to Owingsville for adult and community education classes and as far away as Mt. Sterling or Flemingsburg to take post-secondary education courses. The new center will help alleviate travel and educational accessibility issues for the citizens of Sharpsburg and Bath County as a whole.
“It is the right of every Kentuckian to have adequate and easily accessible learning resources and facilities,” said DLG Commissioner Tony Wilder, Gov. Beshear’s ARC alternate. “By providing access to a new non-traditional educational experience this facility will certainly enhance the quality of life for the folks in Sharpsburg and surrounding communities.”
In addition to the ARC and CDBG grants, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is providing a $300,000 grant and loan to support the center’s construction.
“I’m extremely pleased to see funding for this community center move forward, and to have Governor Beshear come here to help us celebrate this milestone,” said Rep. Sannie Overly. “There is no doubt that this facility will quickly become a focal point for everyone no matter their age, given the many educational and recreational programs it will house. It’s certainly fitting that it’s being built on the same site as the former Sharpsburg High School.”
“This investment will provide an opportunity for many in our community to obtain the education and training they need to improve their own lives and economic status,” said Sen. R.J. Palmer. “While aiding individuals as they better themselves, the center also will be helping to increase the level of education and training of the entire workforce for the community. This really is a positive step forward for Sharpsburg and Bath County.”
Established by Congress in 1965, ARC partners with federal, state and local governments in efforts to support sustainable community and economic growth throughout Appalachia. ARC funds projects ranging from education and job training to housing and business expansion, transportation and infrastructure development. Kentucky’s 54 most eastern and south-central counties qualify for ARC funding. For more on ARC, visit http://www.arc.gov/.
The state’s CDBG program is administered by DLG and funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). For more on the CDBG program, visit http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/.
###
|