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FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 29, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear provided an update on economic development, severe weather recovery, funding awards to support communities recovering from February’s severe storms and floods, summer food assistance and medical cannabis. The Governor named all Kentucky families fighting childhood cancer, as well as medical professionals and advocates, as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Stars.
Economic Development
Today, Gov. Beshear joined local officials and representatives from Aerospace Composites Solutions, a comprehensive composite design and manufacturing company focused on boosting aircraft performance and capabilities, as the company celebrated the grand opening of a new $16.8 million facility in Morgantown, adding 72 full-time jobs to the community.
This month, Gov. Beshear joined local officials and leaders from Zoetis, a world leader in animal health services, for the ribbon cutting of the company’s new diagnostics reference laboratory at the UPS Healthcare Labport in Louisville.
The Governor highlighted new investment in Kentucky’s workforce development initiatives to further maintain and advance the commonwealth’s thriving economy, as over 11,700 Kentuckians will receive skills training thanks to support provided through the Bluegrass State Skills Corp., which oversees programs attached to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development that help private-sector businesses establish industry-specific training initiatives.
Severe Weather Recovery
Gov. Beshear provided an update on severe weather that took place May 16-17 and hit South Central Kentucky particularly hard, with six tornadoes touching down in the commonwealth. Tomorrow, the Governor will be travelling to Laurel and Pulaski counties to assess progress with the intermediate housing program where Team Kentucky houses displaced families in travel trailers, as well as visiting the London and Somerset Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs).
“We’ll be there for the families and communities that are mourning and trying to recover – every step of the way, for as long as it takes,” said Gov. Beshear.
The Governor said the number of confirmed deaths connected to severe weather remains at 19. The fatalities include 17 people in Laurel County, one in Pulaski County and one in Russell County. There are six injured people at the University of Kentucky Hospital: two in critical condition and four in good condition.
Gov. Beshear reminded Kentuckians and anyone else who would like to help that the Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund is there to support survivors, including paying for funeral expenses for those lost in the disaster. To donate, click here. So far, the fund has raised more than $1.5 million in donations from 6,692 donors.
Gov. Beshear recently announced that President Donald Trump approved his request for Individual Assistance for individuals and households in Caldwell, Laurel, Pulaski, Russell, Trigg and Union counties affected by the most recent storms. Click here for a fact sheet on how to apply. Public Assistance is still under review for the May event, as is Hazard Mitigation for the entire state. Since the commonwealth received approval, FEMA has approved over $340,000 for 41 applications. At least 162 survivors have registered for Disaster Survivor Assistance.
The Governor has been working with FEMA to open DRCs, where those affected can go to apply for FEMA aid and receive other assistance. Click here to view the current hours and locations of the DRCs for the February and April floods, or click here for the DRCs related to the recent severe storms and tornado.
At Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park, 13 households are being housed in travel trailers. Three more trailers are ready for survivors, one is pending installation and 105 more are coming to the site.
There is an estimated 400,000 cubic yards of debris in need of removal in affected areas. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, city and county governments and emergency management are working together to develop a plan to have debris removed as quickly as possible.
For those who lost vital documents during the storms, the Governor signed an executive order that suspends certain requirements for ID cards, driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations and titles. During the May state of emergency, residents of any county included in a presidential major disaster declaration can get a duplicate of any of these documents – at no cost.
$25 Million in SAFE Fund Awards
The Governor announced the first 14 awards from the State Aid Funding for Emergencies (SAFE) 4860 fund to assist communities impacted by February’s severe storms and floods, declared as FEMA Disaster 4860. The Governor signed legislation in March to create this new SAFE fund.
The awards total more than $25 million. They include two awards for specific projects or required match funding and 12 awards to assist with financial strains caused by the natural disaster.
In 2022, the Governor worked with legislators to establish the West Kentucky and East Kentucky SAFE funds to respond to devastating tornadoes in the west and floods in the east. Since then, he has awarded more than $118 million to Western Kentucky and $143 million to Eastern Kentucky to help these communities recover.
Summer Food Assistance
Gov. Beshear announced that, thanks to approval by the federal government, healthy meals will continue to be provided to 450,000 Kentucky children while school is out this summer. Each eligible student will receive a one-time benefit of $120 to purchase nutritious food throughout the summer. Support comes through the federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program, which began in 2024.
“Every child deserves access to nutritious meals year-round,” said Gov. Beshear. “Building on last year’s success, our continued effort with this program is a crucial investment in our children’s health and well-being. I’m proud to see this growing initiative provide support to families when they need it most.”
Medical Cannabis
On Wednesday, Gov. Beshear helped break ground on the first medical cannabis safety compliance facility in the commonwealth. With a roughly $1 million investment, State38 LLC will employ around a dozen Kentuckians. The new safety compliance facility will be one of seven in the state dedicated to ensuring the safety and quality of medical cannabis products.
Team Kentucky has confirmed locations for 39 of the 48 planned dispensaries throughout the state. The Office of Medical Cannabis has launched a Dispensary Directory so cardholders can see how close dispensaries will be to them. To find a dispensary that will be open near you, visit kymedcan.ky.gov. Patients were able to start applying for medical cannabis cards on Jan. 1, 2025. Since that time, 10,224 medical cannabis cards have been issued, along with 15,108 written certifications.
To ensure Kentuckians are not paying for a card they cannot use in 2025, today, Gov. Beshear signed an executive order that waives the 2026 renewal application fee for any Kentuckian that received a card in 2025.
Team Kentucky All-Stars
On Tuesday, Gov. Beshear joined leaders from the Kentucky Pediatric Cancer Research Trust Fund Board to present more than $1.9 million in financial and psychosocial support grants for children living with cancer and their families. Today, the Governor named all Kentucky families fighting childhood cancer, as well as medical professionals and advocates, as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Stars.
“A childhood cancer diagnosis is something most of us can’t imagine. These families experience the worst kind of pain and suffering, paired with overwhelming medical expenses,” said Gov. Beshear. “All Kentucky kids deserve to grow up healthy and happy. We’re committed to supporting these families and fighting for a cure.”
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