FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mayor Greenberg Provides Weekly Update

Editor's note: Photos from today's event here

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Media Contacts:

Kevin Trager, 502-751-0358, kevin.trager@louisvilleky.gov

Jody Hamilton, 502-813-1436, jody.hamilton@louisvilleky.gov

 

Mayor Greenberg Provides Weekly Update

LOUISVILLE, KY (September 17, 2024) – During his weekly update Mayor Craig Greenberg announced $1.1 million in Homeless Initiative grant funding from Metro Government, kicked off Bourbon & Beyond and Louder than Life events and celebrated the 110th anniversary of the Belle of Louisville Riverboat, the last remaining Mississippi River-style steamboat in the world.

Homeless initiative grants funding

Eight local nonprofit organizations have additional capacity to hire case managers and expand emergency homeless shelter operations, as Mayor Greenberg announced they will receive a total of $1.1 million in homeless initiative grants funding from Louisville Metro Government. 

The homeless initiative grants will be disbursed to Hope Village, St. Vincent de Paul, Southwest Family Ministries, St. John Center, UP for Women and Children, Volunteers of America Mid-States, Wayside Christian Mission, and Wellspring which all provide case management and emergency shelter services, particularly during inclement weather. 

The organizations were selected following a rigorous application process where each applicant demonstrated how their priorities matched those of the Greenberg administration and the 2024 Community Needs Assessment, including robust case management, providing shelter to combat street homelessness, and taking care of citizens in inclement weather.

“These community partners were chosen for their incredible commitment to critical service delivery that improves the lives of our neighbors in crisis,” said Mayor Greenberg. “It takes strong partnerships like these to help improve the lives of all our citizens, to lift people out of poverty, and to make our city safer, stronger, and healthier.”

“I am truly grateful for the kindness and support of our outreach partners whose dedication and hard work fosters hope and optimism in our great city,” said Jon Pilbean, assistant director, Homeless Services Division, Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS). “These partners help our houseless citizens feel valuable, cherished, and important; all while reminding them they have purpose and are loved.”

Bourbon & Beyond and Louder than Life events

Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP) and the city of Louisville are ready to welcome the greatest eight days of music in the United States with over 200 bands taking the stage at Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life which begins on September 19th. To celebrate, DWP is hosting multiple events for festival-goers and locals to keep the music and entertainment going around Louisville all week long. 

As part of these kick-off events, the Bourbon and Beyond 5K will take place at 8 a.m. on Sept. 21, 2024, at the Kentucky Expo Center, Highland Festival Grounds located at 937 Phillips Ln. The event will kick-off at 8 a.m. with music, light snacks and refreshments, allowing runners and walkers plenty of time to get warmed up and ready to go! The course goes through the Kentucky Exposition Center grounds and Kentucky Kingdom with participants enjoying live music throughout. Learn more at www.mayorthon502.com.

“With record crowds expected this year at Bourbon & Beyond and the 10-year anniversary of Louder Than Life, we are so excited to partner with the city to expand our entertainment options leading up to and throughout the week for both festivals,” said Chamie McCurry, GM of Danny Wimmer Presents.

More information on special events for Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life along with ticket links to all of the events can be found at

Bourbonandbeyond.com/parties and louderthanlifefestival.com/parties.

Here are the road closures for the 2024 Bourbon and Beyond and Louder Than Life. 

The Belle of Louisville turns 110 years old

 Built in 1914, the Belle of Louisville is the only remaining authentic steamboat from the great American packet boat era. A National Historic Landmark and an icon of the Louisville waterfront, the Belle is the most widely traveled steamboat of her size in American history.

“Our Belle of Louisville is truly the last of her kind in the world,” said Krista Snider, Chief Executive Officer of the Belle of Louisville Riverboats. “So, we designed the Gamblers event to commemorate her storied history over the past 110 years and to give a nod to a particularly dynamic chapter of American history that riverboats like the Belle made possible.” 

Gamblers, Rogues and Ne’er-Do-Wells is part of a 110-day celebration as the historic Belle of Louisville – the world’s oldest operating Mississippi River-style steamboat and a National Historic Landmark – turns 110 years old. Tickets for the event support the historic steamboat’s upkeep and maintenance through Friends of the Belle, a 501c3 nonprofit organization devoted to the preservation, celebration and support of the Belle of Louisville Riverboats (BOLR) organization and river history programs in the Louisville area.

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