CORBIN, Ky. — As has become a tradition during the annual SOAR conference, Gov. Andy Beshear and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers came bearing gifts, in the form of grant funding.

They announced Wednesday more than $26 million in Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization grants that will benefit nine Eastern Kentucky counties, with several million heading to the Big Sandy region.

“Once again, this program is funding innovative projects that are bringing jobs to southern and Eastern Kentucky,” Beshear said. “Today we are taking another step forward in building that better Kentucky we all want – one where none of our kids and grandkids have to leave home to chase their dreams, because every opportunity they could want is right here.”

“The AMLER program is generating innovation, job creation, boosting tourism and expanding access to health care and education in the mountains,” Congressman Rogers said. “This competitive grant program is a great example of how federal, state and local leaders can work together to invest in projects that are designed to leverage the assets we have in each community. We have a unique opportunity to diversify and revitalize our rural economy with access to this federal funding, and I applaud our local leaders for bringing competitive projects to the table that will help shape a better future in Southern and Eastern Kentucky.”

Grants announced on Wednesday include:

• The University of Pikeville, College of Dental Medicine was selected to receive $3 million to purchase equipment such as oral scanners, oral microscopes, integrated computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing for its College of Dental Medicine. 
• Pikeville Medical Center was selected to receive $2.76 million for a jobs training program and the construction of 8,000 square feet of space for therapy services at the AVA Center satellite campus in Floyd County.
• The East Kentucky Heritage Foundation Inc. was selected to receive $4.5 million for the construction of the 8,500-square-foot Raven Rock Resort Lodge in Letcher County. Work will include utility connections for water, sewer and power as well as earthwork.
• The Mountain Arts Center was selected to receive $1.02 million for a renovation that will include a new roof, HVAC and lighting system. The funding also will allow the facility to be updated and remain open.
• The Elkhorn City Heritage Council was selected to receive $59,800 to renovate the Railroad Museum to make it more inviting and appealing as a destination for travel and tourism. Renovations would include improvements to the roof and deck, as well as HVAC, lighting, windows, and signage.
• The Kent Rose Foundation was selected to receive $500,000 to build an ADA-compliant, all-inclusive sensory park in Floyd County that would include playground equipment for various age groups, including those with physical and developmental disabilities.
• Johnson County Fiscal Court was selected to receive $2 million to enable the Hager Hill Industrial Job Creation Project to put production equipment in its new manufacturing facility on a 15-acre Build-Ready site and the only rail-served industrial property in the region.
• The city of Jenkins was selected to receive $372,600 to rehabilitate its wastewater treatment plant with equipment that will enable a more efficient treatment process.
• The city of Hazard was selected to receive $3.38 million to replace about 45,000 feet of waterline to increase the capacity of water available to the Coal Fields Regional Industrial Park in Breathitt County from 1 million gallons per day (MGD) to 1.75 MGD.
• Baptist Health Corbin Foundation in Whitley County was selected to receive $2.5 million for site work, utilities and excavation for a new medical tower, located at the northeast end of the campus.
• The Yard, in Estill County, was selected to receive $1.9 million for the construction of the R.J. Corman Pavilion Building and Glass House, track installation, restoration of the fuel tank and rail equipment and construction and renovation of the historic yard office.
• McCreary County Water District was selected to receive $2 million for the engineering and partial construction of a sewer line connection impacting the Cumberland Falls State Park and 110 households in the Daniel Boone National Forest.