Mountain Top Media
Knott receives $2.1 million to expand wastewater treatment
HINDMAN, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear and Congressman Hal Rogers have announced $2.1 million in Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization funding for a major wastewater project in Knott County.
The funding will help expand the Ball Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, more than doubling its capacity from 100,000 gallons per day to 250,000 gallons.
State officials say the project will support hundreds of new homes and future development in Knott and Perry counties, including the Chestnut Ridge, Olive Branch, Hickory Hills and Phoenix housing developments, as well as the relocated Robinson Elementary School.
Knott County Judge-Executive Jeff Dobson says the investment will help lay the foundation for recovery, housing growth and long-term economic development in the region.
The funding is part of Kentucky’s AMLER program, which uses federal abandoned mine land dollars to support economic development projects in coal-producing communities.
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UPike generates more than $150 million annual economic impact in Eastern Kentucky
PIKEVILLE, Ky. – The University of Pikeville generated an annual economic impact of $152.6 million in fiscal year 2025, demonstrating its continued role as a driver of economic growth, workforce development and regional vitality across Eastern Kentucky.
According to an economic impact analysis prepared by UPike’s Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, the university’s influence extends well beyond campus operations through student and employee spending, capital investments, community engagement and long-term workforce contributions.
For every dollar spent by UPike, the institution generated $1.81 in economic activity, underscoring its return on investment to the region and local economy.
“UPike’s mission extends beyond educating students,” UPike President Burton J. Webb, Ph.D., said. We are creating opportunities, strengthening communities and serving as a catalyst for economic growth across the region. “These findings reflect the meaningful impact our students, employees, alumni and academic programs have on Eastern Kentucky every day.”
The university employed 433 individuals during fiscal year 2025 and supported more than 643 jobs throughout the region through its operations and economic influence.
UPike also continues to make higher education accessible through institutional, state and federal financial support. The university awarded more than $15 million in institutional scholarships and facilitated more than $9.5 million in state and federal grant funding to help reduce financial barriers for students.
UPike’s impact is especially evident through its alumni network and contributions to regional health care. Within a 50-mile radius of Pikeville, 6,894 UPIKE graduates live and work throughout the region, providing leadership and professional expertise across industries. Among them, UPike’s osteopathic physician and optometrist alumni generated an estimated $614.4 million in direct and indirect economic output, reinforcing the university’s role in strengthening the workforce and improving access to care across Eastern Kentucky.
During fiscal year 2025, the university served 2,904 students across undergraduate, graduate and professional programs and awarded 588 degrees.
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