Corbin and Williamsburg are among 360 smaller cities across Kentucky which have begun receiving a portion of the $157 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced the funding for the cities with populations under 50,000 Thursday afternoon.
According to the press release from the governor’s office, the funding is to be used to offset COVID–19 related expenses that each city incurred during the height of the pandemic including the cost of personal protective equipment, vaccination clinics, loss of revenue and payroll.
“Local governments have been important partners in our battle against COVID-19, and we know they have taken on great hardship and expenses to protect our people,” said Gov. Beshear. “I’m relieved our eligible city governments will receive these funds, because if we are to build a better Kentucky, we must ensure our communities are supported and positioned for growth.”
Corbin is slated to receive more than $1.856 million.
“We are going to put it into an interest-bearing account until we can get clarification on what exactly these funds can be used for,” said Corbin Mayor Suzie Razmus.
Williamsburg is slated to receive more than $1.365 million.
Mayor Roddy Harrison said there are a number of ideas for where the city may use the funds, but, like Corbin, Williamsburg officials are awaiting clarification on exactly what it may be used to fund.
“It is kind of unclear,” Harrison said of the rules noting that he has read more than 200 pages of guidelines and attended six webinars concerning limitations.
“I’m leary of starting to use the money until we get some clarification,” Harrison said.
Harrison said among the ideas are water and sewer projects, doing things that may help small businesses, and to help fund the waterpark expansion.
“We are going to sit on it and see how everybody else uses it,” Harrison said. “The main thing is to use the money for the good of the people of Williamsburg.”
