FRANKFORT, Ky. — Thursday, during his weekly Team Kentucky Update, Gov. Andy Beshear said that in 2021 alone, businesses have announced plans to create more than 4,000 private-sector Kentucky jobs, a strong sign of the state’s momentum coming out of the COVID-19 crisis.
“Today we are going to talk about jobs, our efforts to seek justice for victims of violent crime, our National Guard activity at the border, COVID-19 and the Team Kentucky Memorial. We’ll also recognize a few great Kentuckians out there doing great things,” said Gov. Beshear. “We are going to start by talking about the excitement in Kentucky’s economy, where we are seeing new project after new project.”
The Governor highlighted a new meat processing facility creating jobs in Western Kentucky. Gov. Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman congratulated Porter Road Butcher Meat Co. LLC on the grand opening of the company’s new USDA-approved meat processing facility in Princeton, which will create more than 80 jobs in Caldwell County. To learn more, see the full release.
Gov. Beshear said other recent economic development examples from the past few months include: Fruehauf, a semi-trailer manufacturer, locating in Bowling Green with a $12 million investment, creating 288 jobs; Kruger Packaging, a Canada-based corrugated box manufacturer, locating in Elizabethtown with a $114.2 million investment, creating 150 plus jobs; Wieland North America, a producer of copper and copper alloy products, locating its North American headquarters in Louisville with an $8.8 million investment, creating 75 jobs, and locating a recycling facility in Shelby County with $100 million investment, creating another 75 jobs; and Firestone Industrial Products, an automotive air springs manufacturer, expanding in Whitley County with a $50 million investment, creating 250 jobs.
Team Kentucky Memorial
The Governor announced Thursday the next phase in creating a permanent Team Kentucky Memorial to honor Kentuckians lost to COVID-19. To date, more than 80 artists have indicated interest in designing the memorial. A panel of experts from state government and local art organizations selected 11 finalists that will now submit in-depth proposals for their vision. The Governor said he will be creating a Team Kentucky Memorial Community Advisory Panel, which will include family members and loved ones of those lost, health care heroes, first responders and COVID-19 survivors, to select the final design. For more information and to apply to be on the panel, visit tah.ky.gov.
Gov. Beshear also said for the next week, people who wish to have a flag from the current memorial may come collect one from the Capitol grounds before all are removed Friday, July 16. If you need assistance in collecting a flag, you may contact the Governor’s Office of Constituent Services and make a request.
COVID-19 Update
Gov. Beshear updated Kentuckians on the status of COVID-19 vaccinations across the commonwealth. The Governor said the state’s vaccination rate is remaining steady, and thousands of Kentuckians have signed up for the Shot at a Million incentive drawing following the state’s first drawing last week. Since then, more than 177,000 adult Kentuckians have registered for the $1 million prize and more than 5,000 Kentuckians ages 12 to 17 registered for a full-ride scholarship.
On Thursday, Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, joined Gov. Beshear to provide an update on the state of COVID-19 in Kentucky. Dr. Stack said after eight weeks of decreasing cases in Kentucky, last week, cases and the positivity rate increased. To protect everyone and be able to keep taking part in activities they enjoy, he encouraged all Kentuckians, especially younger Kentuckians, to get vaccinated.
“If you have a football team with 50 people on it, think about a high school varsity football team, if 20% are vaccinated and 80% are not, here’s what could happen. If you’re in a locker room with all these kids for more than 15 minutes, and you have one positive case, every single one of those players will count as an exposure, because they’re probably all unmasked and close together. If your team is only 20% vaccinated, that means 40 of the students have to be quarantined, and you can’t field a team with just 10 players. But if the team is 80% vaccinated, only 10 kids have to be quarantined and you still have 40 players,” said Dr. Stack. “Here’s the bottom line for students, parents and coaches: if you want to stay safe and on top of that, play sports, the single best thing you can do is go out and get vaccinated.”
Kentucky National Guard Activated to Support Southwest Border Mission
On Thursday, Gov. Beshear said after a notice from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Guard Bureau, Kentucky will be sending approximately 220 Kentucky National Guard soldiers to support the Southwest Border (SWB) mission in late 2021. Kentucky National Guard soldiers will be deployed on federal Title 10 status and will provide operational and logistics support. The Kentucky National Guard soldiers will join the estimated 3,000 guard personnel requested from other states to support the SWB mission.
“This is a direct request from the federal government, from the Department of Homeland Security,” said Gov. Beshear. “This is not a request made from several governors that are out there, without the backing of the federal government. What this means is we will have a clear chain of command, we will have clear missions that come down through the military and our Guardsmen and women will have the authority that is necessary and also legal protections.”
Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Investigative Team Formed with Grant Funding
Gov. Beshear said $1.5 million in U.S. Department of Justice grants has been awarded to the commonwealth to form the Kentucky State Police Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Investigative Team. To leverage existing investigative resources within the KSP Crime Lab, statewide investigative jurisdiction and existing connections with local law enforcement agencies, three trained investigators and a criminal intelligence analyst are moving from the Office of the Attorney General to KSP. The team will continue to focus on investigating and identifying sexual offenders to further protect all Kentuckians. To learn more, see the full release.
Team Kentucky All-Stars
The Governor recognized Team Kentucky All-Stars who represent the best of Kentucky.
The Governor thanked Hodgenville Chief of Police James Richardson for his role in increasing autism awareness among officers in his community, which included designing and printing decals that autistic Kentuckians or their parents or caregivers can stick to their doors or bumpers so police are aware they might interact with officers differently or need additional support.
He also congratulated Madison Lilley for being named the SEC Female Athlete of the Year. Lilley was a member of the 2020-21 University of Kentucky women’s volleyball team, which won the national championship.
The Governor thanked Ballard High School alumnus Trevon Davidson for organizing a drive to donate 343 pairs of shoes to local organizations in Louisville this summer.