Eastern Kentucky communities receive infrastructure grants

Hazard and Jackson recently received more than $6 million in grants to improve infrastructure in their communities. Gov. Andy Beshear in collaboration with the Department of Local Government (DLG) awarded the funds to relive some of the economic burden generated by the decline of the coal industry and improve accessibility to clean water.

In Hazard, Perry County Fiscal Court received $4 million for two different projects. One project will involve renovating the Perry building that houses customer service business SYKES Enterprises. Once completed, SYKES will create 200 full-time jobs.

The second project involves the Route 80 Water Systems Interconnect Project to prevent gaps in water service during shortages. The $500,000 in funds will be combined with previous grants to install a water main connecting Perry and Knott county water systems.

In Jackson, $2 million in funds will go to remedy outdated water lines that often cause losses in revenue and gaps in service. The city will replace 16,700 linear feet of waterline effecting nearly 1600 households and 300 businesses.