KRS § 164.6021 Purposes and administration of Kentucky enterprise fund. (Effective July 15, 2026)

164.6021 Purposes and administration of Kentucky enterprise fund. (Effective July 15, 2026) (1) The Cabinet for Economic Development shall manage the Kentucky enterprise fund to provide capital to early-stage and high-growth, Kentucky-based companies to undertake feasibility, concept development, research and development, commercialization, or expansion work. (2) The purpose of the Kentucky enterprise fund is to: (a) Accelerate knowledge transfer and technological innovation, improve economic competitiveness, and spur economic growth in Kentucky-based companies; (b) Support feasibility, concept development, research and development, or commercialization activities that have clear potential to lead to commercially successful products, processes, or services within a reasonable period of time; (c) Stimulate growth-oriented enterprises within the Commonwealth; (d) Encourage partnerships and collaborative projects between private enterprises, Kentucky's colleges and universities, and research organizations, including collaborations involving one (1) or more such entities; (e) Promote research and development and commercialization activities that are market-oriented; (f) Support early-stage and high-growth companies; and (g) Attract, recruit, and support early-stage and high-growth companies to locate, relocate, or establish a substantial presence in the Commonwealth. (3) The Kentucky enterprise fund shall be used to fund qualified companies in accordance with this section as follows: (a) Funding of up to fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for companies exploring the feasibility of technology commercialization or projects related to feasibility studies, such as incubator and accelerator programs; (b) Funding of up to two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for companies in the concept development phase of technology commercialization; (c) Funding of up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for companies advancing and promoting the program goals, as outlined in subsection (2) of this section; and (d) For new investments made on or after July 1, 2021, no qualified company can receive a total investment from the fund in excess of up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). (4) The cabinet shall allocate at least twenty percent (20%) of the annual allotment of funds for the Kentucky enterprise fund to qualified companies located in rural or heritage counties, and at least twenty percent (20%) of the annual allotment of funds to qualified companies located in Opportunity Zones, as designated by the Commonwealth and certified by the Secretary of the United States Treasury. As used in this subsection, "heritage county" means a county where the county population ranking determined by the cabinet under KRS 154.21-017 scores greater than or equal to ninety-seven (97). (5) For all funding totaling more than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000), the science and technology organization or any entity designated by the executive director of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation shall receive an equity interest in the qualified company, such as a general or limited partnership interest, limited liability company interest, common or preferred stock with or without voting rights and without regard to seniority position, forms of subordinate or convertible unsecured debt, or both, with warrants, rights, or other means of equity conversion attached, a near equity interest such as a simple agreement for future equity or "SAFE agreement," or other convertible debt instruments that are determined to qualify as an adequate investment interest by the executive director of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Effective: July 15, 2026 History: Amended 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 114, sec. 6, effective July 15, 2026; and ch. 198, sec. 29, effective April 27, 2026. -- Amended 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 75, sec. 34, effective June 29, 2023. -- Amended 2021 Ky. Acts ch. 185, sec. 135, effective June 29, 2021. -- Amended 2008 Ky. Acts ch. 98, sec. 3, effective July 15, 2008. -- Created 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 522, sec. 6, effective July 14, 2000. 2026-2028 Budget Reference. See State/Executive Branch Budget, 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 168, Pt. I, B, 1, (3) at 2069. Legislative Research Commission Note (7/15/2026). This statute was amended by 2026 Ky. Acts chs. 114 and 198, which do not appear to be in conflict and have been codified together. Legislative Research Commission Note (11/5/2021). Under the authority of KRS 7.136, the Reviser of Statutes has corrected a manifest clerical or typographical error in subsection (5) of this statute.