Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) was awarded $1.5 million grant by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for funding of the PMC Children’s Hospital.

“This grant will help bridge the gap in the region’s healthcare network through the development of a children’s hospital in Eastern Kentucky,” said PMC Vice President of the Board of Directors and CEO Donovan Blackburn. “

This announcement is one of 54 investments totaling $44.4 million via ARC’s POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative, a congressionally funded opportunity targeting federal resources to help communities and regions that have been affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries due to the changing economics of America’s energy production. Additional support for the PMC Children’s Hospital is provided by the 2019 AML Economic and Community Development Pilot Program.

“I congratulate Pikeville Medical Center for being a FY 2019 POWER grantee, and commend them on the leadership they have shown in their community,” said ARC Federal Co-Chairman Tim Thomas. “POWER grants are playing a critical role in supporting coal-impacted communities in the Appalachian Region as they diversify economies, invest in growth-oriented infrastructure, train a next-generation workforce, and ingrain resiliency and hope into their local fabric. Projects like this help ensure a prosperous future for Appalachia.”

“On behalf of Pikeville Medical Center, the Board of Directors, physicians and staff, I want to extend our sincere appreciation to Governor Matt Bevin and Congressman Hal Rogers for initiating this project for the people in our region and also Senator Rand Paul and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for their support during this grant process,” said Blackburn. “They have always supported PMC’s initiatives. They believe in the people and the future of Eastern Kentucky and have been instrumental in the growth and development of our region.”

Blackburn says this grant will broaden the scope and deepen the value of what we can provide to the region’s youth.