In the hills of Eastern Kentucky, where infrastructure gaps meet big dreams, the Kentucky River Area Development District (KRADD) is proving just how far a little support can go. With a lean team and a hands-on approach, KRADD has become a trusted guide for communities chasing federal funding—and thanks to the state’s innovative grant matching program (the G.R.A.N.T. Program), those dreams are moving faster, further, and with far greater impact than ever before.
Amy Helton, a Community Development Planner at KRADD, didn’t expect to become a champion for the new program when she joined just six months ago. “I’m the new kid on the block,” she says. “Jennifer [our Director] didn’t really know where to put me… She said, ‘Why don’t you get your feet wet on this and see what you think about it?’”
What happened next was remarkable.
“In September, I turned in four applications,” Amy recalls. “One ended up being completely ineligible… but the other three were funded right there.”
A Willing Partner for Small Communities
That early success wasn’t just a stroke of luck—it was the result of KRADD’s unique approach to community development. Unlike many regional organizations, KRADD works not only with cities and counties, but also directly with local nonprofits. “Not every ADD in the state will. They’ll tell you they’re too busy. They don’t have the capacity for it,” Amy explains. “But KRADD will.”
That flexibility has proven critical in making the most of the grant program. KRADD acts as both navigator and guide, helping applicants understand eligibility, organize their documentation, and submit competitive applications for projects already approved for federal funding. “We have an entire staff here… We do grant writing services, we do grant administration, we do all of that.”
A New Fix for a Major Barrier
For KRADD communities—many of which are designated “distressed” by the Appalachian Regional Commission—finding federal grant opportunities has rarely been the issue. The real barrier has always been the matching funds needed to secure them.
“There were people that wouldn’t even apply for these programs because [what’s] the point—we can’t find the match anyway,” Amy says. “Knowing that those funds are available has made a huge, huge difference.”
With the grant program in place, KRADD is helping communities pursue ambitious, transformative projects that once felt out of reach. “It really cuts that amount down immensely,” Amy says. “Instead of… being responsible for 20% of the project total, you’re responsible for one or two percent of only what you ask from the cabinet. It’s insane, the difference.”
The results speak for themselves. Amy alone has submitted around 22 applications through the program, unlocking millions for water, sewer, trail, and recreation infrastructure across Eastern Kentucky. “We’ve got wastewater and clean water access… adventure motorsports in Owsley County… trails and playground stuff… the mine-made adventure park is adding a lot so that people can stay overnight.”
But perhaps no example captures the KRADD model better than the story of the City of Campton, population 400.
“In November, I turned in four applications,” Amy says. “All of which were approved… [the city] ended up spending $14,859 out of pocket, and that’s going to bring in $10,045,000 worth of total project funds.”
Those funds are going toward real needs: a walking bridge that keeps children off the highway, major upgrades to the city’s water treatment plant, a sewer rehab project, and a water line extension. “These should all be going into construction this year,” Amy says. “The match funds were the speed bump. That’s what was holding everything back.”
Removing the Speed Bumps
For KRADD and the communities it serves, the grant program has become more than just a funding tool—it’s become a mindset shift.
“It just removes that kind of speed bump that’s been in front of them the whole time,” Amy says. “And when you have, just, open road in front of you, you start to realize how far you can really go.”
Amy sees the transformation every day: small communities dreaming bigger, projects moving forward, and people feeling empowered for the first time. “They’re applying for grants they wouldn’t have considered even applying for before,” she says. “They’re really thinking about how can we leverage the most amount of change and the most amount of good.”
KRADD has become a hub of hope and possibility, staffed by helpers who are ready to walk alongside communities in pursuit of long-term growth.
“I love helping people,” Amy says. “It makes me so happy to see these projects going through and getting what they need to get started… It just makes a real difference, improving the lives of people who live in these cities.”
And in communities that have faced more than their fair share of hardship—from coal industry shifts to devastating floods—that difference isn’t abstract. It’s as solid as a rebuilt bridge. As steady as a new water line. As exciting as a rally racing track in the mountains.
