Governor's Office for Local Development
DLG Announces Cemetery Preservation Grants

FRANKFORT, KY (June 2, 2009) –  The Department of Local Government (DLG) has announced the distribution of nearly $47,328 in Cemetery Preservation Fund grants for the restoration and maintenance of non-profit cemeteries not receiving perpetual care funds. 

Only county fiscal courts which have established a county cemetery board pursuant to KRS 67.680 are eligible to apply; however, cemeteries, not-for-profit historical or genealogical organizations and not-for-profit local community or civic groups were all eligible to pursue funding through their fiscal courts to participate in the program. 

According to DLG Commissioner Tony Wilder, the current balance of the Cemetery Preservation Fund originated from recaptured or unused dollars from previous grants and is not a new allotment to the fund.  This program was originally establish by the Kentucky Legislature and first received funding during fiscal year 2003.  It continued to receive additional dollars through FY06 but no additional money has been allotted since then due to budgetary constraints. 

“As many crucial programs continue to suffer considerable cuts in funding during these challenging economic times, we are very pleased to be able to distribute recaptured dollars to help communities restore these sacred places,” said Wilder.  “Hopefully the Cemetery Preservation Fund grants will help drive volunteerism and strengthen local pride through the restoration of many significant and historic cemeteries that have been neglected across the commonwealth.” 

The Cemetery Preservation Fund requires a dollar to dollar match by the applicant that may be cash or from in-kind labor or equipment use.  The money must remain in the Cemetery Preservation Fund and cannot be transferred to any other state-funded programs. 

FY09 Approved Cemetery Preservation Fund Grant Recipients: 

County: BALLARD  
Cemetery: Mt. Pleasant 
$1,700.00

County: BALLARD  
Cemetery: Hazelwood 
$1,500.00

County: BALLARD  
Cemetery: Little Union 
$1,500.00

County: BRECKINRIDGE  
Cemetery: Holt 
$1,950.00

County: CALLOWAY
Cemetery: Miller 
$1,250.00

County: CALLOWAY  
Cemetery: Schroader 
$1,950.00

County: CHRISTIAN  
Cemetery: Foster Gardens 
$550.00

County: CHRISTIAN  
Cemetery: Fuller-Martin 
$1,815.00

County: CHRISTIAN  
Cemetery: Spurlin 
$528.00

County: CHRISTIAN  
Cemetery: West Union Baptist 
$515.00

County: CLARK  
Cemetery: Grove/Reeves-Reese 
$1,200.00

County: CLARK  
Cemetery: Patton & Harris 
$1,250.00

County: HART  
Cemetery: Pearl Webb 
$1,950.00

County: HART  
Cemetery: Watkins-Wyatt 
$720.00

County: HOPKINS   
Cemetery: Cane Run 
$1,950.00

County: JACKSON   
Cemetery: Crank-Tincher-Gabbard 
$1,950.00

County: JESSAMINE  
Cemetery: Samuel Hunter 
$1,250.00

County: LAWRENCE   
Cemetery: 5 Remote & Abandoned 
$1,950.00

County: LOGAN  
Cemetery: Red River 
$1,950.00

County: MADISON 
Cemetery: College Hill 
$1,500.00

County: MERCER   
Cemetery: McAfee 
$1,950.00

County: SHELBY   
Cemetery: Beech Creek Baptist Church 
$1,950.00

County: TAYLOR  
Cemetery: Brown-Newton 
$1,600.00

County: TAYLOR  
Cemetery: Chandler 
$1,600.00

County: TAYLOR  
Cemetery: Pleasant Union 
$1,600.00

County: TAYLOR  
Cemetery: Saloma 
$1,600.00

County: TAYLOR  
Cemetery: Sprowles-Burress 
$1,600.00

County: TAYLOR  
Cemetery: Spurlington UMC 
$1,600.00

County: WARREN   
Cemetery: New Salem 
$1,000.00

County: WASHINGTON   
Cemetery: Parrott-McElroy 
$1,950.00

County: WOODFORD  
Cemetery: Zion Hill 
$1,950.00

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