Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Jason Todd, Kentucky Electric Cooperatives Boad Chairman, presented the 2024 Beautify the Bluegrass Governor’s Award to the Beattyville Welcome Sign project, a partnership of Jackson Energy Cooperative and community leaders.
For the eighth year in a row, the Governor’s office, Kentucky’s electric cooperatives and their flagship publication, Kentucky Living, partnered on the Beautify the Bluegrass initiative to recognize Kentuckians who complete homegrown projects to improve public spaces.
“When we say ‘Team Kentucky,’ this is what we’re talking about—Kentuckians who care about their communities and take action to help. Thank you to every Kentuckian and co-op who completed Beautify the Bluegrass projects this year,” said Governor Andy Beshear. “I want to say thank you for your cooperative spirit and your willingness to roll up your sleeves to improve Kentucky”
“Like the electric co-ops that belong to and are led by local Kentuckians, these projects are homegrown,” said Jason Todd, Kentucky Electric Cooperatives Board Chair at the announcement in the State Capitol Rotunda. “These efforts were not completed to win an award; they are the result of the people in this room taking it upon themselves to identify how they can make Kentucky a better and more attractive place to live.”
The program recognizes Kentuckians who take an active role in preserving the state’s natural beauty and helping their communities shine. Throughout the years, nominated projects have represented a wide variety of local needs, including rebuilding community assets impacted by natural disasters, breathing new life into downtowns, planting gardens, painting murals, repairing playgrounds, and removing litter from waterways and roads.
“We love the community we live, work and play in, and want to leave it a better place than we found it. Even though we don’t do it for awards and recognition, it’s such an honor to receive the Beautify the Governor’s Award for the second time,” said Lisa Baker of Jackson Energy, recipient of the 2024 Beautify the Bluegrass Governor’s Award. “The work we do for the people of Beattyville doesn’t go unnoticed—not by the consumer members in our region nor the state. Thank you to those who nominated us.”
The Welcome Sign on Beattyville Highway 11 in Lee County was renovated and revitalized by a team of 24 volunteers from Jackson Energy. The co-op funded the project in coordination with Beattyville community partners. Volunteers cleaned, repainted, installed solar lights, added flower planters and mounted new flags—all with locally sourced materials.
“I’m really pleased to see Kentuckians stepping up every year to help make Kentucky shine, and I’m especially proud of our co-ops who go above and beyond to serve their communities,” said Chris Perry, Kentucky Electric Cooperatives President and CEO. “Not only are these men and women working in all sorts of conditions every day to keep the lights on, but they are also giving back in unique ways. Our member co-ops really are proud to partner with the Governor’s office to highlight the individuals and groups who want to give back to our beautiful Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
In August, Kentucky Living and Governor Beshear announced the five 2024 Beautify the Bluegrass finalists. Kentucky Living readers voted online for their choice to receive the 2024 Governor’s Award. Other finalists included:
- Big Rivers Electric & Kenergy, Landscaping for Habitat for Humanity Training Center (Daviess County)
- Devan Horton, Works of Art That Bloom (Campbell County)
- City of Danville’s Downtown Streetscape Project (Boyle County)
- Friends of Red River Trah Cleanups (Wolfe County)
Any project completed between August 2024 and July 2025 is eligible for recognition for the 2025 Beautify the Bluegrass. Watch for the nomination form to go live in March 2025 on KentuckyLiving.com to coincide with the Kentucky Living article about the 2024 honorees.