During a conference call with city officials on Wednesday, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Secretary Jim Gray updated mayors on the total number of applicants for the state’s recently announced water and sewer grant program. Kentucky cities can apply for their share of $250 million in drinking and wastewater grants through the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA).

Secretary Gray said that as of June 30, the state received 197 applications. Those requests equal $140 million in projects. The application process continues through the end of November.

Gray and Rocky Adkins, Governor Beshear’s senior advisor, said that there might be additional water and sewer monies in the biennial budget that legislators will draft in the 2022 session.

Governor Andy Beshear also updated mayors on the commonwealth’s COVID-19 statistics.

Beshear said Coronavirus cases continue to decline with a positivity rate below 2%, the lowest since Kentucky had adequate testing for the virus. Beshear credited the dip to increased vaccinations ‒ 82% of Kentuckians over age 65 have received the shot.

The governor described hospital capacity as being in “very good shape” and added that death totals, while stubborn, are on the decline.

Kentucky will draw the first winners of the Shot at A Million vaccination incentive on Thursday. One vaccinated Kentuckian will win $1 million, while five vaccinated children between the ages of 12 and 17 will win a full-ride scholarship. Beshear pointed out that Kentuckians have about a one in 500,000 chance of winning. Kentucky will release the names of those drawn on Friday. Two more drawings will follow on July 29 and August 26. Click here to register.