After a Grant Ready Kentucky workshop, Alex Halsey went from having never written a grant to securing nearly $900,000 for the Lewis County Health Department—funding that remodeled facilities, expanded care, and placed Narcan boxes across the county. A grant also helped him go back to school for social work and inspired his vision to build a pipeline of local providers in rural Kentucky.
When Habitat for Humanity Owensboro-Daviess County set out to build not just homes, but an entire neighborhood, they had the land, the vision—and a serious funding gap. With help from the GRANT Program and local partners, they found the match funding that turned “someday” into “right now.” The result? Ten homes under construction, families on the path to stability, and a powerful reminder of what’s possible when big dreams meet the right support.
After two failed attempts at securing state opioid abatement funding, Lifeline Recovery in Paducah, Kentucky, was ready to give up. But with Grant Ready Kentucky’s free coaching and training, Executive Director Ashley Miller and her team took one last shot, and won. That grant is now transforming lives, funding workforce training, peer support, and GED prep for people in recovery. For Ashley, a program graduate who has lost multiple family members to addiction, the success is deeply personal: “You don’t have to do it all alone. Asking for help is not a weakness. It’s wisdom.”
In the heart of central Kentucky, New Pioneers for a Sustainable Future is showing what sustainability can look like in small, rural places—one relationship at a time. With just a few staff and a whole lot of heart, they’re making big strides through education, advocacy, and hands-on programs. Thanks to support from Grant Ready Kentucky, Executive Director Julia Gerwe found not just a roadmap for grants—but the confidence to own her organization's voice. With newfound clarity and tools in hand, New Pioneers is ready to grow its impact across Washington, Marion, and Nelson counties.
In Whitesburg, Kentucky, the Cowan Community Center has long been a gathering place rooted in grit, grace, and community spirit. When a dream for a permanent farmers market pavilion seemed just out of reach, the GRANT Program helped change the math—turning a modest local investment into hundreds of thousands in federal support. Now, thanks to Cowan’s vision and the backing of partners like KRADD, a new stage and 30-bay market pavilion are rising on the banks of the Kentucky River. It’s more than a structure—it’s a promise that rural places can build big dreams, and see them through.
For years, the City of Campton, Kentucky—a small town serving all of Wolfe County—faced mounting infrastructure challenges with few financial options. But under Mayor Kathi May’s leadership and with support from the state’s new GRANT Program, the city has secured over $10 million in federal funding for critical projects, including a new walking bridge, water treatment upgrades, and long-awaited water access for 80 households.
The Kentucky River Area Development District (KRADD) has helped small, often-overlooked communities across Eastern Kentucky unlock over $10 million in federal funding—thanks to the state’s new GRANT Program. By helping local governments and nonprofits navigate complex applications and secure matching funds, KRADD has turned “impossible” projects into reality.