STORM SECURES $1 MILLION TO SUPPORT LAUREL COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
Funds utilized from the state’s robust budget reserve trust fund
FRANKFORT, KY (March 29, 2024)—Sen. Brandon Storm, R-London, along with London Tourism and Parks, Laurel County Tourism, the Laurel County Fiscal Court, and the city of London, are celebrating the $1 million awarded to London Tourism and Parks to assist in the development of the new London Laurel County Regional Fairgrounds project, located within the Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park. The London-Laurel County Regional Fairgrounds is a joint venture of London Tourism and Parks, the city of London, Laurel County Fiscal Court, and Laurel County Tourism.
"I want to thank everyone I worked with to ensure this funding was included in the final version of House Bill 1," Storm said. "This investment will yield long-term benefits for local tourism and revenue and positively affect our entire region. I owe a debt of gratitude to members of the Senate leadership for joining me in support of this line-item allocation. I'm eager to see these dollars' positive impact on London, Laurel County, and the entire region."
BACKGROUND
In collaboration with several community partners, London Tourism and Parks has developed a master plan for revitalizing the London-Laurel County Fairgrounds, a 50-acre parcel. The reinvigorated fairgrounds would be a versatile venue for agricultural fairs, music festivals, trade shows, tractor pulls, and archery tournaments, attracting tourists and driving economic growth through strategic promotion and investment. The Phase 1 plan would divide the property into upper and lower sections, focusing on enhancements to the upper area and the entry/access from Highway 229. This includes constructing a large prefab structure near the existing bathroom building, expanding upper area parking and adding safety lighting, and planning for future infrastructure. London Tourism and Parks are actively soliciting proposals from design professionals to advance the project to the construction phase while securing investment from community partners and exploring various funding and grant opportunities, including the $1 million award secured by Storm in House Bill 1.
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Fairground revitalization concept
Sen. Brandon J. Storm, R-London, represents the 21st Senate District, including Casey, Lincoln, Laurel, and Rockcastle Counties. He recently graduated from the esteemed Henry Toll Fellowship and was the only Kentuckian to participate in the 2023 program. Sen. Storm serves as a Senate member of the Interim Joint Committees of Banking and Insurance; Economic Development and Workforce Investment; Judiciary; Local Government; State Government; Transportation; and Tourism, Small Business and Information Technology. He also serves as the co-chair of the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee; a member of the Jail and Corrections Reform Task Force; and a member of the Multimodal Freight Transportation System Improvement Task Force.
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