WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers applauds the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) for awarding it’s largest grant totaling approximately $40 million through the Recompete Program to Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR).
The grant will support SOAR’s Eastern Kentucky Runway Recompete Plan to connect Eastern Kentucky residents to resources and training for good jobs, including an Appalachian Digital Academy. As Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, Rogers secures EDA funding for the Commerce Department and firmly advocates for economic support in rural America. To date, EDA has been provided $200 million for the Recompete program.
“We have the best workforce in the country with individuals who take great pride in their skills. Given the work ethic of our region, this grant could be a gamechanger in the hands of SOAR, an organization already shaping a brighter future in Kentucky’s Appalachian Region. They are readily able to connect our people to the training and resources they need,” said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the House. “As we continue rebounding from the devastating decline of the coal industry, this investment will better prepare our workforce for the healthcare, energy and tech sectors, without leaving their hometowns in the mountains. Our communities have ramped up transportation and infrastructure to prepare for new businesses, and this grant will bridge the gaps for our workforce as well.”
SOAR’s Eastern Kentucky Runway Recompete Plan was named one of 22 Recompete Finalists in December 2023, as part of Phase 1 of the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program, targeting employment gaps for individuals ages 25-54.
“These Recompete investments will address key economic drivers and revitalize communities by creating jobs and developing long-term economic growth – allowing each to chart a new path to prosperity in the modern economy,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
As one of six Recompete awardees selected for implementation funding, the Eastern Kentucky Runway Recompete Plan will advance local industries, small business support, and job placements for people in recovery, former coal workers, and others in a 12-county region. Geared towards healthcare, energy, and tech sectors, the coalition will grow employment in remote jobs and expand pathways to higher-paying careers.
“Through partnership with local communities, the Recompete program will make targeted, community-led investments to reduce unemployment,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “The Recompete awardees are bringing together a wide range of partners to develop integrated approaches to support Americans in accessing good jobs.”
For more information about SOAR visit soar-ky.org. To learn more about Congressman Rogers’ work in Washington and at home in Eastern Kentucky, visit halrogers.house.gov and follow him on social media.
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Congressman Hal Rogers
2406 Rayburn House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-4601
