Government funding package includes $12 million for Louisville community projects
WASHINGTON — A package of government funding bills signed into law this month includes more than $12 million to support infrastructure, economic development and neighborhoods in Louisville, according to Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville.
It includes more than $900,000 to transform empty buildings in West Louisville into commercial space and homes.
Jerad Davidson is construction manager of the nonprofit OneWest, which he said is focused on revitalizing the nine neighborhoods of Louisville’s West End with affordable housing and business spaces.
“We’re not trying to move people from outside of the area that may already have established businesses in place,” Davidson said. “We're trying to get local businesses a foot up to build the community out, and we're trying to get the community engaged with that.”
Another $1 million will go toward a project to build a shared community space at 30th and Madison in the Russell neighborhood.
Theresa Zawacki, co-lead of Russell: A Place of Promise, said the initiative has a goal of building Black wealth and has been working with residents on what the site should include.
“We've landed on a mixed use commercial residential campus that includes retail,” she said. “It includes restaurants. It includes recreation. It includes places for people to live and places for people to work.”
The money will help with some of the design and site work that needs to happen ahead of a groundbreaking, Zawacki said.
Louisville leaders said the funding package also includes money for street improvements, a community center and transitional housing.
By: Erin Kelly
Source: Spectrum News