Beshear visits Mayfield to dedicate 8 new homes

On Friday, Gov. Andy Beshear visited Mayfield to dedicate eight new homes for tornado survivors.

"We made a promise to be with western Kentucky after the tornadoes, until every home and every life was rebuilt," Gov. Beshear said. 

Beshear joined local officials and nonprofit leaders to hand over the keys to seven new homes built through the Hope Initiative with $500,000 in contributions from the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund

More than $21.6 million has been committed from the fund to construct or repair 300 homes. To date, 184 home-building projects are completed, under construction or approved to start construction. 

Launched just days after the tornadoes in December 2021, the fund has raised over $52.3 million, with donations from over 150,000 individuals and businesses. 

The money raised first helped pay funeral expenses for the families of the deceased and provided assistance to survivors as well as local farmers. The remaining funds will be used to build houses. 

The Governor also dedicated one new home built by Christian Public Services.

"This home was built with funding from First United Methodist Church of Mayfield – which was destroyed by the tornado," Gov. Beshear said. "But they're still pitching in and helping out their neighbors and their community. That's the spirit of resilience that we've seen throughout the past two years."

Since the tornado hit, 130 new homes have been built in Graves County and over 50 businesses have been rebuilt or repaired.