Beshear tours nearly completed Mission House

CLINTON, Kentucky (Oct. 4, 2024)--Gov. Andy Beshear toured the nearly completed Mission House, a food pantry and low-cost clothing store in Hickman County, on Oct. 3, marking a significant milestone in the project's development.

The Purchase Area Development District (PADD) played a crucial role in funding Mission House through its Feeding America Tornado Relief Leverage Project, which more than doubled the impact of $1.5 million in philanthropic donations made in response to the December 2021 tornadoes that devastated much of Western Kentucky.

PADD used the funds to leverage and match state and federal grants, creating a regranting program that enabled applicants, including Mission House, to make transformative investments in their programs and strengthen their long-term organizational resilience.

In addition, Mission House received $1.5 million in funding from Kentucky's Community Development Block Grant program, administered by the Department for Local Government.

"We're proud to have contributed to making Mission House a reality," said Jeremy Buchanan, PADD Executive Director. "By combining the generosity of donors with state and federal grants, we've turned a moment of tragedy into an opportunity for lasting community resilience. This project demonstrates the power of partnerships to invest in our region's future."

PADD's Feeding America Tornado Relief Leverage Project, along with partnerships with the City of Benton, the Fulton County Fiscal Court, and the Hickman County Fiscal Court, has supported improvements or new construction at facilities across more than half of its eight-county service area. These facilities include Alternative Resources of Kentucky (ARK), Ken-Tenn Foodbank, Enon Baptist Church, Operation Not One Missed, Graves County Food Pantry, Melber Baptist Church, and Marshall County Caring.

"Today, we toured a nearly finished community building that we helped fund and announced more funds to further improve Hickman County," Beshear said in a written statement. "We're on a historic winning streak in Kentucky in terms of economic development and improving quality-of-life metrics across the board."

Hickman County Judge/Executive Kenny Wilson and other Hickman County Fiscal Court members were present for the celebration.

"This was a great day for Hickman County as we celebrated a project that will help so many in our community," Wilson added. "The additional funds announced today will improve the lives of our residents and attract new businesses to our town. We're committed to working with state officials to build a brighter future for Hickman County.