FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 5, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear provided an update on economic development, a gas tax reduction for Kentuckians, Pre-K for All, awards to strengthen public power and electric grids, grants to clean up and repurpose brownfields, driver licensing, severe weather recovery, Our Healthy Kentucky Home and Gun Violence Awareness Day. The Governor named the University of Louisville and Murray State University baseball teams as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Stars.

Economic Development
Gov. Beshear congratulated Jackson Purchase Distillery, as the company will soon officially fill its 100,000th barrel of bourbon. Founded in 2021 in Hickman, Kentucky, Jackson Purchase is one of the fastest-growing distillery operations in the country. The company has invested over $37 million in the commonwealth. CEO Lloyd Jones and master distiller Craig Beam joined the news conference to talk about this milestone of bourbon success in Kentucky.

Gas Tax Reduction
The Governor announced that his administration has taken another step to help bring down costs for Kentuckians. Starting July 1, the state gas tax will drop by 1.4 cents per gallon. With this new decrease, the Beshear-Coleman administration has now decreased the gas tax by a total of 3.7 cents, or 12%, over the last two years.

“Right now, things that our families need cost too much. As Governor, I am laser-focused on helping bring down costs for our Kentucky families,” said Gov. Beshear. “I know every penny counts, and these savings can really add up. Whether you are driving to school or work – or setting out on a family trip – you should see these savings at the pump.”

Pre-K for All
Yesterday, the Governor launched the “Pre-K for All” initiative, which aims to advance the commonwealth’s public education system and job growth. With stops in Louisville, Florence and Lexington, Team Kentucky officially kicked off the statewide launch tour of this initiative to make pre-K an option for every 4-year-old in Kentucky. Pre-K for All increases kindergarten readiness, eliminates child-care deserts, boosts parents’ take-home pay, saves Kentucky families out-of-pocket child-care costs, grows Kentucky’s labor force and grows Kentucky’s economy.

As part of the initiative, Gov. Beshear issued an executive order creating the Team Kentucky Pre-K for All Advisory Committee, comprising 28 leaders from across the commonwealth. Today, the Governor announced he has selected Sam Flynn to lead the Pre-K for All initiative. Flynn joined the Team Kentucky update to talk about what is coming next, including Town Halls, Pre-K for All Advisory Committee meetings and other ways the public can get involved.

Public Power/Electric Grid Awards
Gov. Beshear announced more than $6 million in awards to improve the dependability of the electric grid and keep the lights on during disruptive events such as extreme weather, wildfire or natural disasters.

Brownfield Grants
Gov. Beshear announced more than $6 million to help Kentucky communities expand economic development and tourism opportunities through the restoration of previously blighted and unused property known as brownfields. The city of Frankfort is receiving a $500,000 Community-wide Assessment Grant to assess, clean up and repurpose the Holmes Street Corridor. City Commissioner Katima Smith-Willis and Rebecca Hall, the grants manager for the city, joined the news conference to speak about the importance of the funding. For a full list of awards, see the full release.

Driver Licensing
The Governor provided an update on steps his administration has taken to implement House Bill 15, which lowers the age at which Kentuckians can obtain a drivers permit from 16 to 15 years old. Since Gov. Beshear signed the legislation and it went into effect under an emergency provision on April 1, nearly 15,000 15-year-olds have successfully passed the written test and obtained their driving permit.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) re-engineered its license system to accommodate the influx of new drivers. Visit the Kentucky State Police website to search for available testing appointments. The Governor announced that Team Kentucky has added over 100 new contracted full-time positions at Driver Licensing Regional Offices that are mostly filled. These new staff members will assist with processing permits for 15-year-olds, REAL ID applicants and license renewal needs. Gov. Beshear also reminded Kentuckians of the ways they can skip the line when renewing their drivers license. Take the quiz to see if you qualify to renew online or by mail.

Severe Weather Recovery
Gov. Beshear provided an update on severe weather recovery in the commonwealth. For the May 16-17 severe weather and tornadoes: Click here for a list of Disaster Recovery Centers open to those affected and click here for a fact sheet on how to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance. Since the commonwealth received approval, FEMA has disbursed over $1 million in assistance. The deadline to apply for disaster assistance is July 23, 2025.

For the May event, there are currently still five injured people at the University of Kentucky Hospital: two in critical condition and three in good condition. At Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park, 16 households are being housed in travel trailers.

The Governor announced that residents in six counties who were affected by severe weather on May 16 are eligible for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits. People who live or work in Caldwell, Laurel, Pulaski, Russell, Trigg and Union counties can apply beginning today, June 5, through June 12.

Citizens, along with city, county and KYTC crews have collected and hauled 12,182 tons of debris to the Laurel Ridge Landfill. Laurel County has hired a contractor to remove the remaining debris along county rights-of-way. The city of London is handling its own debris removal within city-maintained properties. State crews are removing debris from state rights-of-way in eastern Pulaski and Laurel counties.

For the April floods, so far, more than $20 million in Individual and Households Assistance has been disbursed. The deadline to apply has been extended to July 25, 2025.

For February severe weather, more than $46 million in federal assistance has been disbursed.

The Governor provided an update on the denial that Team Kentucky received for Public Assistance for ice storms in January. Yesterday, his administration appealed this denial because he believes the event meets all the legal thresholds for assistance. The Governor said he will keep Kentuckians updated on this process.

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 disasters. To donate, click here. So far, the fund has raised more than $1.6 million in donations from 6,907 donors.

Our Healthy Kentucky Home 
The Governor provided an update on Our Healthy Kentucky Home, a one-year initiative to promote simple, positive and attainable goals to inspire and motivate Kentuckians on a journey to health and wellness. Last month, the focus was women’s health. In June, the focus is men’s health, and the Governor and Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, emphasized the importance of men getting screened for heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes and prostate cancer, as well as eating balanced meals and partaking in regular physical activity. Visit the Our Healthy Kentucky Home website to learn more.

Gun Violence Awareness Day
The Governor signed a proclamation recognizing Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend, June 6-8.

“Each year we lose Kentuckians to gun violence, and this is personal to me. I lost one of my very best friends almost two years ago,” said Gov. Beshear. “This weekend, I encourage all Kentuckians to wear orange to help raise awareness about gun violence and to honor the lives of survivors and victims.”

Team Kentucky All-Stars
This year, Kentucky has two schools playing in the NCAA Division I Baseball Super Regional Round – the University of Louisville and Murray State University baseball teams. The Governor named the teams as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Stars.

“It’s been another historic year for sports in the commonwealth,” said Gov. Beshear. “To all the players, coaches, managers and staff who made this moment possible, thank you and congratulations.”

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