FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: May 17, 2013
CONTACT: Felicia Lewis
(502) 597-6286 or
Frankfort, KY – Kentucky State University has been officially named “Frankfort’s University” by the city’s mayor. Frankfort Mayor William May issued the proclamation during a Kiwanis Club meeting on campus on Thursday, May 16, and presented it to KSU President Mary Evans Sias.
“Kentucky State University provides Frankfort with many benefits,” said May, who is a KSU graduate. “KSU offers educational opportunities to the area residents and state employees wishing to attain a college education and to those who wish to enhance their careers. Frankfort also benefits from the many jobs provided by KSU, which also enhances our tax base.”
May recognized KSU as the only fully accredited, four-year institution of higher learning in Frankfort and one of the two land-grant institutions in the state, and which also has one of the top five aquaculture programs in the nation. KSU’s direct and indirect employment adds more than 1,266 jobs to the local economy. Consumer spending of KSU’s faculty, staff, students, contractors, service providers and vendors accounts for more than $41.7 million spent with local businesses, he noted in the proclamation.
Indirect property taxes and direct and indirect occupational taxes paid by KSU exceed $2.2 million, he said. KSU accounts for more than $100 million that flows through the Franklin County community each year. KSU also provides cultural activities, sporting and recreational events for the Frankfort/Franklin County community.
City commissioner Tommy Haynes said he requested that the mayor issue the proclamation so more people would become aware of the relationship between the city and the university.
“It was one of my goals during my campaign to make sure we had something official that claimed Frankfort’s University,” Haynes said.
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