Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced a $752,000 grant to Community at the Core, Inc. in Debord, Kentucky. The grant is aimed at supporting the growth of the agricultural production sector in the community.
A portion of the grant will be allocated towards production equipment for a new apple sorting facility. The EDA’s contribution will be supplemented by $188,000 in local funds. According to the grantee estimates, this investment is expected to create 150 new jobs, retain an additional 100, and stimulate $70 million in private investment.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Alejandra Y. Castillo, stated the EDA’s commitment to supporting communities as they recover from local disasters and adjust to economic shifts. This project provides essential agricultural and manufacturing infrastructure, aiming to diversify the economy in an area that has experienced recent flooding and changes within the coal community.
Governor Andy Beshear commended the recent growth in the agriculture production industry, attributing this sector as a key driver in the state’s economic prosperity. He expressed optimism that the new investment would continue increasing momentum for Eastern Kentucky and beyond.
This initiative was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Big Sandy Area Development District (Big Sandy ADD). The EDA funds Big Sandy ADD, a group that brings public and private sectors together to create an economic development roadmap, support private capital investment, and create jobs.
The project was funded under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which granted the EDA with $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery.
