The ongoing push for affordable housing in Bowling Green hit a milestone Tuesday after Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced over $130 million in funding to building 635 affordable housing units in Bowling Green and Warren County.

After the December 2021 tornadoes, the state solicited proposals for housing projects in impacted areas. On Wednesday, Beshear announced more than $223 million was allocated, with more than half going to Warren County.

Brent Childers, director of Neighborhood and Community Services for the City of Bowling Green, said the tornadoes increased the need for affordable housing.

“City staff recognized after the (tornadoes) that affordable housing was our greatest need,” Childers said. “We started (to) work with our (state) partners … to see how we can best address affordable housing using disaster recovery funds.”

The projects will be multi-family apartment complexes targeted at low- to middle-income individuals and families. Most of the units will be two to three bedrooms and rent prices will be controlled, ensuring affordability into the future.

Rent “would be much more affordable than the market provides,” Childers said.

The units statewide will be built by approved developers using a variety of funding sources.

According to the Kentucky Housing Corporation, the largest development in Warren County will be the 256-unit Echo Trail Apartments at a location to be determined.

Other local projects are:

• Garrison Gardens; 1221 Crewdson Drive – 120 units,
• Emery Flats, 1200 Morgantown Road – 180 units
• Campbell View Apartments; 110 Campbell Lane – 71 units.
• Lifeworks Annex; 1176 Adams St. – 8 units

The city will leverage $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help cover the local project costs. This money, appropriated by the Bowling Green City Commission, will cover two of the five planned developments in Warren County, according to a release from the City of Bowling Green.

Additional funding will come through tax credits and bonds along with Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Relief money and funds from the HOME Investment Partnership Program, according to a news release.

Childers said the ARPA money will be awarded “later this summer.” Construction work is eyed to begin in the spring of next year.

“These will have to go through the development processes to get their reviews in place and permits ready, but these are all projects that should be ready to start construction hopefully within a year or so,” he said.

Once they are completed, eligible residents will be able to apply to rent the units.

Graves, Hopkins and Christian counties will also see affordable housing investments.

“… We all made a promise,” Beshear said in a press conference announcing the project. “A promise that we would rebuild every structure and every life.”