The Economic Development Administration recently announced an award of $1.2 million for disaster recovery in Eastern Kentucky following the 2022 historic floods.
With the funds, the Mountain Association, a nonprofit with offices in Berea, Hazard, and Prestonsburg, will hire a disaster recovery coordinator to support ongoing efforts in the region, continue and expand its free business consulting for disaster impacted businesses, along with its 0% percent interest flood recovery loans.
“What has buoyed the region during these hard times has been the small businesses and nonprofits deeply dedicated to and rooted in the region and willing to do the hard work of cleaning up: the community centers, the health clinics, the coffee shops, the local foods restaurants, the arts organizations,” said Mountain Association President Peter Hille. “These small businesses make up 99% of businesses in the state, and account for 44% of all employees.”
The Mountain Association also hopes to work with impacted businesses to develop disaster response plans and implement changes to their businesses to allow them to be more resilient when disaster or major disruption strikes again.
In addition to coordinating outreach to these businesses and organizations, the disaster recovery coordinator will work closely with the Long-Term Recovery Groups and Area Development Districts to add capacity. The disaster recovery coordinator position will be advertised via the Mountain Association’s careers webpage and other avenues in the coming weeks.
Hille said he was grateful that the EDA, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is investing in Eastern Kentucky.
The mission of the EDA is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.
