Governor Steve Beshear, U.S. Representative Hal Rogers and the Appalachian Regional Commission have announced $6 million in federal grants to help the economically struggling eastern Kentucky region.
The money will go to a variety of projects. The Kentucky Cabinet for Finance and Administration will spend $1 million to help train businesses and communities to use e-commerce. The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development spend more than $468,000 on food chain supply. And WestCare Substance Abuse Treatment will spend $1.2 million for an economic development project at the Judy Patton Center.
The grants come as construction begins on a 3,400-mile network of fiber optic cables throughout the state, with an initial emphasis on eastern Kentucky. State leaders hope the network will spur business development and jobs for out-of-work coal industry workers.