Kara Keeton, Communications Director
Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy
404 Ann Street, Frankfort
(502) 564-4627
agpolicy.ky.gov

Senator R.J. Palmer and Representative Carolyn Belcher were at the Bath County Agricultural Education and Marketing Center construction site this morning to present a check for $1,510,000 in Agricultural Development Funds to the Bath County Agricultural Extension Foundation.  Larry Clay and Danny Case, Agricultural Development Board members and Penny Durham, Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy were also on site to show support for the project and to take part in the ceremonial check.  

The Agricultural Development Funds for this project represent a combination of funds including $10,000 of Menifee County funds, $300,000 Bath County funds and $1.2 million in state funds. The Bath County Extension Foundation has secured the matching grant funds for this project from a variety of sources including a USDA Rural Development grant, state assistance, and local contributions. 

The Agricultural and Marketing Center will include a number of structures including a covered farmer’s market, a store front for value-added products, a certified commercial kitchen, and meeting facilities in conjunction with the extension offices.  The new farmer’s market and store front will give local producers the opportunity to market their products directly to consumers, while the certified kitchen will allow producers the chance to add value to their on farm products.

"This project will have a significant impact on economic development in Bath County," said Senator R.J. Palmer II, D-Winchester. "This is a model program for Kentucky that will greatly benefit our agricultural community."

Kentucky’s Legislature has made a historic effort to diversify away from tobacco production while revitalizing the farm economy by investing 50% of Kentucky's Master Settlement Agreement into the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund.  To date Kentucky has invested over $150 million to an array of county, regional, and state projects designed to increase net farm income and create sustainable new farm-based business enterprises. The Bath County Agricultural Education and Marketing Center represents just one of the over 1250 projects that have been funded through Agricultural Development Fund, since the inception of the program in January 2001.

For more information about the Bath County Agricultural Education and Marketing Center contact Gary Hamilton or Carole Rison with the Bath County Extension Office or the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy at (502) 564-4627.