Today, U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) announced the approval of a $45 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development (USDA-RD) for a much needed expansion project for the Pikeville Medical Center in Pikeville, Kentucky.

"The Pikeville Medical Center is rapidly outgrowing its facilities and this loan will fast-track the hospital's expansion project," said Rogers. "Our rural region suffers from some of the highest health disparities in the nation, but I commend PMC President/C.E.O. Walter May for his vision and commitment to changing those statistics and diligently working to relieve our families from healthcare burdens. I also applaud the USDA-Rural Development office for recognizing the direct impact its funding support will have in improving medical services for the thousands of families who rely on healthcare at the Pikeville Medical Center."

The loan will be used to construct two additional floors to the parking garage and convert the top three floors of the medical office building into physician exam rooms. In 2010, the medical center was awarded a $44.6 million Community Facility Direct loan to construct a new medical office building and a parking garage. This additional funding is vital to meet the hospital’s dramatic growth since construction began on the original project.

Pikeville Medical Center is a regional facility, providing health care services to a rural population of nearly 69,000 in Eastern Kentucky and portions of Virginia and West Virginia.

Rogers has served Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District since 1981. With a focus on economic development, job creation, fighting illegal drugs and preserving Appalachia’s natural treasures, he has a reputation for listening to his constituents and fighting for the region he represents. For more information, visit http://halrogers.house.gov/ or follow Rogers on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/RepHalRogers or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/CongressmanHalRogers.

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