WEST LIBERTY, Ky. (WKYT) - It's been nearly eight months since a tornado ripped through West Liberty devastating the city.

Since then the people who live there have been working to rebuild Main Street. Morgan County officials said they've received a lot of help from Frankfort.

"I know every time we call on him he listened to us and since our disasters back in March he's always been there," said Judge Executive Tim Conley.

On Wednesday Governor Steve Beshear announced that the state would be spending millions to help with that process.

The governor delivered two big checks, one for $416,000 from the Transportation Cabinet's Emergency Road Aid program. That money will be used to repair storm damaged streets and roads.

The other check, for $400,000, is just the beginning of the state's plan to change the way people drive through West Liberty. It's the beginning of a seven million dollar project that will widen Main Street. It will also change the intersection of Main and Prestonsburg Streets to make it easier for large trucks to navigate. The governor said 10,000 vehicles a day travel through that intersection and changing it could change the face of the city.

"We want to leave it better than we found it, that's going to attract new businesses into the community," Beshear said.

Transportation officials said surveying on the project could begin as early as next week.

Morgan County High School students from several classes were able to meet Governor Beshear and watch his presentation.