Western Kentucky riverports get state grants

Riverports in western Kentucky will receive part of nearly $2.3 million in state funding.

The funding from the Kentucky Public Riverport Construction and Maintenance program will benefit eight projects at six Kentucky public riverports.

The Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority received two awards totaling $730,000. A $520,000 project will replace a deteriorating scale house with a new 1,366-square-foot building, and $210,000 will replace a fertilizer conveyor system.

The Eddyville Riverport and Industrial Development Authority was awarded nearly $460,000 for a project to replace and modernize an undersized and aging building. The new facility will expand boat repair operations and improve use of the port’s lift.

The Hickman Fulton County Riverport Authority award of nearly $354,000 will go toward a new, safer barge-moving system.

The Henderson County Riverport Authority will receive over $320,000 to replace a mobile conveyor system.

A $250,000 award will go to the Western Kentucky Regional Riverport Authority to excavate Fort Jefferson to develop a new 19-acre inland riverport.

The Owensboro Riverport Authority won two awards totaling more than $200,000 to purchase a new yard tractor and a new forklift. 

The money is given out by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The grant program was established by the 2024 General Assembly.