Bluegrass Area Development District

10/06/2026

🎉 BGADD Awarded $750,000 Historic Revitalization Grant!

The Bluegrass Area Development District (BGADD) has been awarded a $750,000 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant from the National Park Service to support historic preservation and rural economic development in Boyle and Mercer counties.

Through a competitive subgrant program, funding will help rehabilitate historic commercial buildings, civic spaces, cultural venues and community landmarks in Danville, Perryville and Harrodsburg—supporting downtown activity, heritage tourism, small businesses and productive reuse of vacant or underused properties.

🏛️ Preserving our history.
💼 Strengthening local economies.
🌱 Investing in the future of our communities.

BGADD is proud to help bring new life to historic places across the Bluegrass region!



PRESS RELEASE

BLUEGRASS AREA DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AWARDED $750,000
PAUL BRUHN HISTORIC REVITALIZATION GRANT

Funding will support historic preservation and rural economic development in Boyle and Mercer counties,
Kentucky.

LEXINGTON, KY - October 6, 2026 - The Bluegrass Area Development District (BGADD) has been awarded a $750,000 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant from the National Park Service to support rehabilitation of historic properties in Boyle and Mercer counties. BGADD was one of two award recipients in Kentucky.

BGADD will administer a competitive subgrant program, with an emphasis on Danville, Perryville and Harrodsburg. The program will help preserve historic commercial buildings, civic spaces, cultural venues and other community landmarks while supporting downtown activity, heritage tourism and productive reuse of vacant or underused properties.

Potential rehabilitation activities include stabilization, roof and masonry repairs, window and door restoration, and exterior rehabilitation. Projects will be evaluated for eligibility, preservation need, readiness, public benefit and potential to support local economic development.

Historic buildings are important to the region's identity and support small businesses, arts organizations, tourism and public services. This funding will help address rehabilitation needs that can prevent property owners from keeping these spaces occupied, maintained and useful to their communities. Supporting tourism and historic revitalization is one of many ways that BGADD enhances the economy of our local communities.

BGADD will work with local governments, preservation leaders and community partners to implement the program. Selected projects will be required to meet applicable federal preservation standards and include protections for long-term stewardship of the assisted properties.

The award is part of nearly $17 million announced by the National Park Service for 25 projects in 20 states through the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Program, supported by the Historic Preservation Fund.

Additional information about application procedures, eligibility requirements and deadlines will be shared as the local subgrant program is finalized.
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09/25/2026

📚✨ Happy Dolly Day! ✨📚

Today, the Bluegrass Area Development District is celebrating Dolly Parton and the incredible gift of imagination, literacy, and opportunity made possible through the Imagination Library of Kentucky! 💕📖

Through the Imagination Library, children from birth to age five can receive a free, age-appropriate book delivered directly to their home every month—helping families build a love of reading and giving Kentucky’s youngest learners a strong start.

For families across the Bluegrass, a book in the mailbox can mean so much more than a story. It can mean a bedtime tradition, a shared adventure, a new word learned, and a lifelong love of learning. 🌟

At the Bluegrass Area Development District, we’re proud to support efforts that strengthen our communities and create opportunities for Kentucky’s children to learn, grow, and imagine what’s possible.

🎂📚 So today, let’s celebrate Dolly by celebrating BOOKS!

👉 Learn more about the Imagination Library of Kentucky and find out how your family can participate: https://imaginationlibrary.com/kentucky/

The goal of the statewide expansion is to make books available to children ages 0-5 in every zip code in Kentucky.

09/09/2026

So happy to be part of this incredible service to our counties.

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day!

The Bluegrass Area Development District will be closed today, Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday! ❤️💙

09/06/2026

Happy Labor Day!

The Bluegrass Area Development District will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday! ❤️💙

09/03/2026

📚 New Statewide Education Opportunity for Kentucky

The Bluegrass Area Development District is proud to join Kentucky’s 15 Area Development Districts in supporting the formation of the Kentucky Education Fund, a new statewide nonprofit preparing for a federal scholarship tax credit program beginning January 1, 2027.

The Fund will provide a statewide option for administering qualifying contributions and scholarships for eligible K-12 educational expenses, helping create greater opportunities for students across all 120 Kentucky counties.

Read the attached press release to learn more about the Kentucky Education Fund and the upcoming program.

08/17/2026

Apply for the HMCIDA - Executive Director job in Harrodsburg, KY! Learn more about the job description, salary, and job details to see if you qualify on Indeed today.

08/13/2026

The Area Development District is working with the Kentucky Transportation Center at the University of Kentucky to create a Safety Action Plan for roadways across Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Nicholas, Powell, Scott, and Woodford counties, and your voice matters in shaping it.

We're gathering input directly from the people who use these roads every day, so we can pair local knowledge with crash data and target the fixes that matter most.

A few minutes of your time helps direct real funding and resources toward safer roads for everyone — drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.

👉 Take the survey here: https://loom.ly/s6CCo7I

Please share with neighbors, friends, and family in the Bluegrass region — the more input we receive, the safer we can make our roads for everyone.

The Bluegrass Area Development District is currently developing a Safety Action Plan for Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Nicholas, Powell, Scott, and Woodford counties. This survey will be combined with crash analysi...

07/17/2026

We’re proud to announce that the Bluegrass Area Development District has received the 2026 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)!

Our award-winning PDS Digital Enrollment Project modernizes the Participant Directed Services program by replacing paper-based processes with a secure digital system. This innovation means less paperwork, faster service, and quicker access to essential care for the individuals and families who rely on these services.🎉