Thread by @GovAndyBeshear

I am humbled to stand before you tonight to deliver my third State of the Commonwealth address. In many ways, this address feels both the toughest and the most exciting. #SOTC2022

We come into this new year with excitement and optimism, with an economy booming like never before. At the same time, we are all processing grief and sadness after a year of unprecedented natural disasters and a continuing pandemic. #SOTC2022

Our commonwealth is strong. It is strong because we are strong. In Kentucky, we are good people, tough people, resilient people. #SOTC2022

We are celebrating the greatest economic progress we’ve seen in our nearly 230-year history, with the largest ever private sector investment, the most new jobs and the second highest wages in state history. #SOTC2022

But first: Let’s address our trials and our tragedies. 2021 was marked by the loss of far too many of our friends, family members and neighbors. #SOTC2022

On top of another year of painful losses to the pandemic, 2021 was bookended by natural disasters: devastating ice storms and historic flooding in January and February, and the deadly tornado outbreak. #SOTC2022

The stories are tragic, but they are also heroic. I met a farmer in Taylor County who pulled multiple neighbors from the basements of their collapsed homes, clearing away enough debris to pull them out. That man, Nevin Price, is with us tonight with his wife, Sherrie. #SOTC2022

Jeremy Creason is chief of the fire department in Mayfield. He was among the first on the scene after a tornado leveled a candle factory with dozens of workers inside. To all our first responders, the people of Kentucky thank you. #SOTC2022

We saw grace in the actions of our people and in the outpouring of love and support from around the world.
➡️Team WKY Relief Fund, over $36 million donated;
➡️ Thousands of toys donated through @BritainyBeshear's Christmas drive; and
➡️ Booked blood drive at Capitol. #SOTC2022

When @BritainyBeshear announced the toy drive, gifts poured in and piled up by the hundreds of thousands to make sure these kids who had already lost so much could have a good Christmas. #SOTC2022

I joined @UKCoachCalipari and @SamaritansFeet2 to hand out shoes. A young boy lit up as I pulled out a new pair of blue sneakers. He asked if he could put them on right there, right then. We got them on him, and he jumped up and began running around, showing pure joy. #SOTC2022

I also met Kara McKnight, who is with us tonight, at the Pennyrile State Park Christmas celebration. She lost her older brother Logan around Thanksgiving. And then she lost her house in the tornado. #SOTC2022

My daughter, Lila, and I volunteered to be Kara’s personal shoppers, and I started handing her more and more board games and other toys. When her hands were full, I started loading Lila up with more, just for Kara. #SOTC2022

I want every family and community touched by these storms to know that I am with you, the General Assembly is with you and the Commonwealth of Kentucky is with you, today, tomorrow and however long it takes. We will rebuild. Every structure - every life. #SOTC2022

I am working with House and Senate members on fast-track legislation to help our impacted families by directing $150 million to help our communities rebuild and another $50 million to the region’s schools to help them recover and get them ready. #SOTC2022

I want every family and community touched by these storms to know that I am with you, the General Assembly is with you and the Commonwealth of Kentucky is with you, today, tomorrow and however long it takes. We will rebuild. Every structure -- every life. #SOTC2022

We've lost more than 12,000 of our fellow Kentuckians to this evil virus. And right now we are seeing a severe, unprecedented escalation of cases due to a new variant we must take seriously. #SOTC2022

In little more than a year, we’ve built the most robust testing and vaccination networks in human history. It was called the greatest logistics challenge since World War II, and we got it done. #SOTC2022

My administration’s COVID response is and always will be based on saving lives: not what is easy, not what is popular, but what is necessary and what is right. #SOTC2022

That’s why we were one of the very first states to prioritize vaccinations for our educators. It’s how Kentucky was one of the first states to return to in-person instruction in every single school district. Our approach was later adopted by the rest of the nation. #SOTC2022

And as our kids went back to in-person learning, they had the support of the First Lady’s Coverings for Kids.

➡️ 2.4 million masks donated

#SOTC2022

Yes, in 2021 we faced a once-in-100-years pandemic that is the challenge of our lifetime. On top of that, we have dealt with flooding, ice storms and deadly tornadoes. Still, we never took our eye off the ball and worked every day to build a better future of our kids. #SOTC2022

Along the way, we shattered every economic development record in the books! We attracted a record $11.2 billion in private-sector investments. Even better: These investments will create more than 18,000 quality jobs for Kentucky families. #SOTC2022

In September, we landed the largest single investment this state has ever seen. At nearly $6 billion and 5,000 new jobs, @Ford Motor Co. is building its electric vehicle future in our commonwealth.
#SOTC2022

Bill Ford Jr. is Ford’s executive chair – and Henry Ford’s great-grandson. He sat in my office and said: “Andy, this is the biggest step in the auto industry since the Model T. And this is the biggest investment Ford has ever made, and we are making it in Kentucky.” #SOTC2022

And its not just @Ford… These are world-class companies choosing us; some of the most sophisticated corporations on the planet betting their future on Kentucky.

We've seen unprecedented growth in emerging industries like agritech, with @AppHarvest announcing expansions in Morehead, Somerset, Berea and Richmond, and other companies like AppleAtcha and FreshHarvest continuing to grow. #SOTC2022

Kentucky was already the worldwide leader in bourbon production, but in 2021 the industry expanded in production & tourism. A personal thank you to @SecRaimondo for helping us successfully remove harmful tariffs, ensuring a bright future for this signature industry. #SOTC2022

In a little over a week, I will join you again to unveil a budget that does just that. A budget is more than lines and numbers, it’s a values statement, and my upcoming budget will reflect our Kentucky values of family, faith, community and compassion for our neighbors. #SOTC2022

I will make historic investments in:
➡️Education;
➡️Economic development sites;
➡️Essential workers;
➡️Agritech;
➡️Infrastructure;
➡️State workers and more.
#SOTC2022

As representatives of the people of Kentucky, we are called at this crucial moment in our history to accept this great responsibility and to lead. #SOTC2022

Our time is here – our future is now. Thank you; God bless you and God bless the Commonwealth of Kentucky. #SOTC2022