London – Laurel County To Receive Funding From Land and Water Conservation Fund; 911 Services Board Grant Award

FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 31, 2021) –State Senator Brandon Storm (R-London), Vice-Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Transportation, would like to share recent funding announcements benefiting London/Laurel County from the Kentucky Department for Local Government and Office of Homeland Security.

The Kentucky Department for Local Government (DLG) recently announced 41 communities that will be beneficiaries of more than $4.3 million for improvements to parks and outdoor spaces across Kentucky. The funds come from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). London will receive $99,995 to purchase Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible playground equipment and a sensory maze at Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park. Additionally, the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security (KOHS) announced $24,725 has been awarded to the London/Laurel County E-911 Communication Center as a part of the 2021 competitive grant cycle. The awarded funds are for a 911 call center project to evaluate and change/modify existing 911 data and build a framework for future geographical information system data for Next Generation 911 (NG911) standards.

“I am thankful that the Governor, DLG, and KOHS decided to make these investments in London and Laurel County,” said State Senator Brandon Storm. “We all love our local parks, and that is certainly true for those of us here in Laurel County who regularly visit Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park. Our 911 services are essential to keeping our community safe. We are fortunate to be able to call this area of the Commonwealth our home and to have amazing first responders working tirelessly to keep us safe,” Storm continued. “I am excited that more of our children will be able to enjoy the park after new equipment is installed.  I also look forward to seeing the improvements the 911 funds will bring to our call center. I want to thank our local leaders for their initiative to secure these funds.”

LWCF is a federal program designed to protect important natural areas, help local communities acquire land for outdoor recreation spaces and to develop or renovate public, outdoor recreation spaces such as campgrounds, picnic areas, sports and playfields, swimming, boating or fishing facilities, trails, natural areas and passive parks.

“Parks and recreation spaces are an important part of every Kentucky community,” said Gov. Beshear. “They provide safe spaces for exercise, community-building and leisure, which are all important factors in ensuring Kentuckians are healthy and happy. Ultimately, parks and recreation spaces are a critical piece in building a better Kentucky for every family.”

To receive funding, administered at the state level by DLG, selected applicants must undergo federal review and receive approval from the National Park Service.

“The Land and Water Conservation Fund will provide crucial funding for communities in every corner of Kentucky,” said DLG Commissioner Dennis Keene. “We are grateful these funds will upgrade Kentucky parks with accessible trails, playgrounds, and more for every Kentuckian to enjoy.”

Regarding the 911 grant funding awarded to London/Laurel County, for the 2021 grant cycle, 47 applications were requesting at a sum of $2.8 million. In evaluating the grants, a team of Kentucky 911 subject matter experts from across the Commonwealth analyzed and scored each grant. Each application also received a technical review to ensure each grant request met proper technical specifications. This objective evaluation process removed politics from the process and ensured that grants were ranked on critical need.

By statute, grant funding is directed to projects that establish and improve the delivery of 911 services in the Commonwealth, emphasizing increasing NG911 capacity. NG911 is a new technology that allows the public to share richer, more detailed data—such as videos, images, and texts—with 911 call centers. It also enhances the ability of 911 call centers to communicate with each other and improves system resiliency

For more info on the LWCF and DLG, please visit this link. Find the DLG press release, including details on funding to all 41 communities here. Details on grants and the work of KOHS can be found by visiting homelandsecurity.ky.gov. Finally, more info on Senator Brandon Storm is available at legislature.ky.gov.

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Note: Senator Brandon Storm (R-London) represents the 21^st District, which encompasses Laurel, Bath, Estill, Jackson, Menifee, and Powell Counties. Senator Storm is the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and serves as Chairman of the Enrollment Committee. He also serves as a member of the Senate Standing Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor; State and Local Government; Banking and Insurance; and the Budget Review Subcommittee on Human Resources. Additionally, Senator Storm is a member of the Statutory Committees on Program Review and Investigations; and Child Welfare Oversight and Advisory.