Home » State announces new initiative to help revitalize coal communities

State announces new initiative to help revitalize coal communities

Up to $38 million in grants available to support economic and workforce development

kentucky_seal_resized2LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 27, 2015) — State officials today announced the formation of the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) initiative to award up to $38 million in grants to coal communities to support economic and workforce development.

POWER is designed to use federal economic and workforce development resources to:

  • Diversify economies
  • Create jobs in new or existing industries
  • Attract new sources of job-creating investments
  • Provide a range of workforce services and skills training that offer industry-recognized credentials for high-quality, in-demand jobs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also announced approval of a $1.8 million loan for a new innovative business in Eastern Kentucky, the region hit the hardest by the loss of coal jobs.

Kentucky Dairy Product Innovations (KYPDI) is a health-and-wellness beverage business headquartered in London that will become the first U.S. producer of low-calorie, lactose-free skim milk. Using the low-calorie, lactose-free skim milk, the company also has created a new carbonated and flavored dairy product called Fizza that has been approved for sale at middle and high schools across the country.