It isn’t often the Governor of Kentucky strolls into Cadiz with a smile and a check — much less one for $10 million.
But on Thursday afternoon, right around quittin’ time, Andy Beshear did just that — hand delivering a fully-funded grant for what will be a complete and thorough renovation of Trigg County’s long-storied vocational building located directly behind the high school.
Built in 1972, the facility serves as a home to 18 proud career technical education pathways and a pivotal Trigg Tots daycare program. Approaching its 50th birthday, however, the building and its property seemed to have missed out on the nip-and-tuck the rest of campus has received over the years.
Following a grant proposal crafted by district officials Holly Greene and Faye Stevens, the Wildcats were awarded in a max capacity through what Beshear noted was bi-partisan leadership in the Kentucky General Assembly — leadership that was focused on infrastructure and the state’s local area vocational education centers near the top of the list.
Stevens noted that while the vocational school’s current model has a set number of pathways, the renovation will likely allow for new career tracks and opportunities to spring up in the district.
Trigg County’s vocational building serves more than 60% of the high school’s population, and several students spoke on its behalf Thursday.
Vincent McQuade, a senior engineering student, noted the grant would immediately change the trajectory of future students — a positive trend, certainly, after other Trigg County graduates have moved on to bright careers.
Another senior, Colson Thomas, perhaps intentionally channeled his inner Poe Dameron — a leader of the Resistance in the Star Wars sequels — when describing what the funding could do for the school.
Alex Smith, a member of the Class of 2025, could be one of the first students at Trigg County to experience the vocational school’s renovation — which may begin as early as next summer with hopes of a 14-month timeline.
She wants to be a veterinarian and study some engineering, and she knows this type of upgrade is only going to make her better.
Trigg County High School Principal Tim Bush made another strong point, in that a $10 million investment now could equate to workers, ideas and everything in between worth ten times that value.
Bids for the renovation will begin in April of next year.
Other noted dignitaries in attendance included District 1 State Senator Jason Howell (R), Fifth District State Representative Mary Beth Imes (R), Cadiz City Clerk Barbie Johnson, Trigg County Superintendent Bill Thorpe, Thorpe’s entire school board (Gayle Rufli, Jo Alyce Harper, Charlene Sheehan, Theresa Allen and Clara Beth Hyde) and his entire working staff from the central office.
Beshear closed the celebration by leading “Happy Birthday” for both Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to the governor, and Stevens.
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