Federal grants in Kentucky
Federal agencies awarded $110 billion in grants to recipients in Kentucky from fiscal 2021 to 2025. The largest program was Grants to States for Medicaid, with $69 billion.
- Kentucky ranks 20th of the 50 states and DC for federal grant awards over five years.
- Federal grant money to recipients in Kentucky was roughly flat, $24 billion in fiscal 2021 and $24 billion in fiscal 2025.
- State and local governments received the largest share, 91%.
- Grants to States for Medicaid alone accounted for 62%.
Grants in Kentucky by type of organization
- Grants for state and local governments in Kentucky
- Grants for nonprofits in Kentucky
- Grants for colleges and universities in Kentucky
- Grants for businesses in Kentucky
- Grants for small businesses in Kentucky
- Grants for tribes in Kentucky
- Grants for individuals in Kentucky
Private foundations based in Kentucky: 763 foundations, with who accepts applications.
Project grants won in Kentucky
Most federal grant money is formula and block grants that go to the state by law: $86 billion in Kentucky, 78% of the total. Programs that pay project grants and cooperative agreements, which organizations apply for, brought $10 billion to recipients in Kentucky. These are the largest:
Largest federal grant programs in Kentucky
Largest grant recipients in Kentucky
| Recipient | Type | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Services Kentucky Cabinet for | State and local governments | 583 | $78 billion |
| Kentucky Department of Education | State and local governments | 145 | $8.8 billion |
| Executive Office of the Commonwealth of Kentucky | State and local governments | 3,367 | $5.6 billion |
| Commonwealth of Kentucky | State and local governments | 11 | $1.3 billion |
| The University of Kentucky Research Foundation | Colleges and universities | 1,330 | $1.3 billion |
| Kentucky Department of Military Affairs | State and local governments | 63 | $1.3 billion |
| Energy & Environment Cabinet | State and local governments | 182 | $925 million |
| Kentucky Department for Local Government | State and local governments | 162 | $804 million |
| Department of Workforce Development | State and local governments | 78 | $577 million |
| University of Louisville | Nonprofits | 474 | $521 million |
| East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc. | Nonprofits | 2 | $495 million |
| Kentucky Infrastructure Authority | State and local governments | 26 | $467 million |
| Education & Workforce Dev Cabinet | State and local governments | 40 | $422 million |
| Catholic Charities of Louisville Inc | Nonprofits | 20 | $287 million |
| Wieland North America Recycling LLC | Businesses | 1 | $270 million |
| KY Transportation Cabinet | State and local governments | 22 | $234 million |
| Louisville Regional Airport Authority | State and local governments | 36 | $224 million |
| Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government | State and local governments | 113 | $208 million |
| Kenton County Airport Board | State and local governments | 21 | $208 million |
| Community Action Council for Lexington-F | Nonprofits | 39 | $201 million |
Browse all 655 federal grant recipients in Kentucky
Where the work happens
The totals above count grants by where the recipient is based. Counted by place of performance, where the funded work happens, grants in Kentucky came to $110 billion. Grants for statewide or multi-county work count in no county, so county totals add up to less.
| County | Awards | Grants |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 715 | $11 billion |
| Jefferson County | 1,445 | $2.2 billion |
| Fayette County | 1,636 | $2.0 billion |
| Clark County | 54 | $539 million |
| Christian County | 153 | $445 million |
| Shelby County | 71 | $392 million |
| Kenton County | 341 | $373 million |
| Boone County | 146 | $351 million |
| Madison County | 195 | $295 million |
| Henderson County | 113 | $288 million |
| Warren County | 239 | $286 million |
| Daviess County | 153 | $271 million |
| Laurel County | 145 | $237 million |
| Pike County | 211 | $237 million |
| McCracken County | 158 | $202 million |