PIKEVILLE, KY -- U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers announced a federal grant award from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for nearly $1.9 million for water and sewer infrastructure improvements in Pike County. The funding was awarded to the Pike County Fiscal Court to serve the new Wolfpit Industrial Park, which is part of the region's federal Opportunity Zone. 

"Water and sewer expansions are still a critical part of job creation and strengthening our communities in southern and eastern Kentucky. This investment from EDA will fast-track the local vision for a new manufacturing business to set up operations in this new industrial park and create much-needed new jobs in the heart of coal country," said Congressman Rogers. "I applaud the Pike County Fiscal Court and Judge Executive Ray Jones for their proactive work to strengthen our Appalachian economy and provide more opportunities for our former coal miners."

Upon completion of the project, the Wolfpit Industrial Park will become the home of an Appalachian-based manufacturing business, which serves several industry sectors, including biomedical equipment. 

“On behalf of the citizens of Pike County and the Pike County Fiscal Court, I would like to express my appreciation to the EDA, and especially Congressman Rogers for his unwavering support of this project and its importance to Pike County and Eastern Kentucky," said Ray Jones, Pike County Judge Executive. "Pike County, the largest county in Kentucky, presently does not have a county-owned industrial park. The development of this site gives us an opportunity to recruit new business and industry to our region, and to help diversify our economy in light of the decline in the coal industry throughout the region.”

The project will strive to employ out of work coal miners through various programs and trainings to help strengthen the regional healthcare industry. Once completed, the project will create and retain jobs, advance economic resiliency, and attract private investment to an area that has been impacted by the decline of the coal industry.

For more information about Congressman Rogers' work in Kentucky and Washington, DC, visit halrogers.house.gov or follow him on social media.