Two Kentucky counties get funds for vocational education

SALYERSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Two eastern Kentucky counties have received more than $14 million from Gov. Andy Beshear to build new vocational education centers.

Beshear on Friday presented $10 million to the Johnson County Board of Education to fund the construction of a new Local Area Vocational Education Center, which will be connected to the new Johnson Central High School, a news release said.

An existing career and technical education center in Johnson County currently offers 27 training majors and has almost 1,000 students enrolled, Beshear's office said.

Beshear also handed out more than $4.3 million to the Magoffin Board of Education to finance a new vocational education center.

Officials say the current vocational education building, built in the 1970s, has inadequate electrical wiring, outdated security systems and various space issues.

Beshear has awarded Kentucky school districts $75 million to upgrade vocational education centers. The grants were approved by the Kentucky School Facilities Construction Commission Board.