The state legislature’s budget bill includes a total of $3M for the Russell County Agribusiness Training Facility project.
The budget bill, which has passed through both chambers and has been sent to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, includes $1.5M for each of the next two fiscal years to go toward the project, which was announced last spring.
Last March, the Russell County Industrial Development Authority announced an approximate $1.85M competitive federal grant for the facility.
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded funding to support the construction of a 12,815 square foot building with classrooms, a laboratory, a media room, administrative space, and a 1,250 square foot greenhouse.
In its first three years, the facility will host classes for an estimated 870 high school and community and technical college students and will serve Adair, Casey, Clinton, Pulaski, Russell and Wayne Counties.
The facility, which will be under the Russell County Board of Education’s management, will provide the curriculum and instructors to teach high school vocational students agriculture growing and management techniques.
