FRANKFORT: Kentucky's Agriculture Commissioner thinks President Trump's infrastructure plans will bring an economic harvest to rural communities.
Commissioner Ryan Quarles was at the table with the president for this week's announcement that has some wondering whether states like Kentucky can afford to buy in.
“I stand by the fact that it puts an emphasis on rural American and that's something we haven't quite seen in the previous administrations,” said the Republican Ag Commissioner. “I'm just excited to see this. It’s the first step in a longer discussion that will involve Congress about our spending priorities.”
The plan includes $50 billion in grants for rural America but to cash in states must buy in by investing some of their own money. At a time when Kentucky is cash-strapped, facing a pension crisis, some doubt whether the bill will deliver on the promise to America's Heartland.
Commissioner Quarles has confidence in the plan.
“The bill still has to go through Congress. One of the most attractive parts of the rural infrastructure rollout are state block grants where states can come up with their own set of priorities and apply for block grant,” Commissioner Quarles said. “That's important for a state like Kentucky where we can choose if we want to invest in broadband internet if we want to fix the roads we have or make sure that the Ohio River is open for business. The $50B up for grabs, I think, is an attractive part of the rural infrastructure rollout.”