LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Mayfield, Kentucky, is slowly rebuilding nearly three years after a powerful tornado devastated the small town.

Gov. Andy Beshear's office said crews broke ground on a new city hall and police station on Thursday. 

Both buildings were destroyed in the tornado outbreak in western Kentucky in December 2021. 

"This groundbreaking today on our city hall and Mayfield Police Department marks a milestone achieved through the efforts of our national, state and local governments to rebuild the heart of our city government and exhibits the determination and resiliency of the people of our beloved city," Mayfield Mayor Kathy O'Nan said in a news release.

The city is also rebuilding its fire station, which is already underway following a Sept. 23 groundbreaking.

All of the work is being done thanks to $48 million in state emergency funding. Federal representatives from the state helped secure $123 million in federal funding to help impacted residents rebuild.

"We made a promise to the people of western Kentucky that we'd be here until every structure, home and life is rebuilt," Beshear said in a news release. "Today, we're taking a big step in making good on that promise. We're not going anywhere."

Meanwhile, more than $21 million from the Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund has been dedicated to building or repairing 300 homes.

Beshear joined O'Nan at Thursday's groundbreaking, along with Sen. Mitch McConnell, Sen. Rand Paul, Congressman James Comer and other state and local leaders.

"This is a big step forward, but we still have more work to do to help Mayfield and other communities devastated by this storm," McConnell said in a statement. 

The Dec.9-10 tornado outbreak killed 81 people and leveled hundreds of homes just weeks before Christmas. 

The tornadoes left devastation in their wake, hitting the Mayfield, Dawson Springs and Bowling Green areas the hardest. 

"While the tragic disaster that swept through the western half of our commonwealth nearly three years ago brought great devastation and loss, it did not break the spirit and resiliency of these communities," Paul said in a statement.

IMAGES | Mayfield, Kentucky faces a long recovery after December tornado

In Mayfield, a tornado slammed into a candle factory with more than 100 people still inside, killing nine people and leveling the building. Twenty-four people died in Graves County from the tornado. The candle factory has since been rebuilt in Hickory, just 10 minutes from Mayfield.

In Taylor County, 70 families were displaced by the storms. In Dawson Springs, 14 people were killed when the tornado devastated the small town, destroying 65-70% of the community's homes and buildings.

In Warren County, a total of 17 people were killed in the storm that left behind destruction in Bowling Green. 

In total, 3,778 homes, 183 businesses and 103 buildings were destroyed. 

Fore more information about Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, click here.

To look at more of WDRB's coverage of the 2021 tornadoes, click here.

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