Kentucky Officials Announce $22M in Eastern Kentucky Development Funding
At the annual Shaping Our Appalachia Region Summit in Corbin, Rep. Hal Rogers and Gov. Andy Beshear announced $22 million in federal funding through the Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization program for projects across Eastern Kentucky, including healthcare facilities, emergency services, water infrastructure and economic development. Funded projects include $2.76 million for AdventHealth Manchester to purchase a surgical robot, $2.5 million to replace an Elliott County EMS facility, and funding for a Letcher County waterline serving Mountain Comprehensive Health Corp. During the event, Beshear reiterated warnings that federal Medicaid funding cuts under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could close rural hospitals and end coverage for 250,000 Kentuckians, while Rogers voiced support for the Trump administration. The funding announcement is separate from but adjacent to Beshear's ongoing Medicaid policy concerns for the region.