ASHLAND — Kentucky Power recently awarded One East Kentucky a $270,000 economic development grant for downtown revitalization in Martin County, Hazard, Jenkins, Prestonsburg, Pikeville and Whitesburg.

The grant is funded through the Kentucky Power Economic Growth Grant program.

OEK will use the grant to hire a national consulting firm to assist local officials and community development staff members in creating customized strategic plans for each community.

OEK is a privately funded regional economic development organization headquartered in Paintsville and serving nine counties in the coal fields region. The organization’s goals for the grants are economic growth, job creation and the development of an available and skilled workforce ready for industrial business employment.

“This initiative was well underway before the July flooding in southeastern Kentucky, but it still remains a critical piece in not only revitalizing our downtowns but to also rebuild them. We are committed to doing everything we can to assist,” said Bob Shurtleff, Kentucky Power external affairs manager.

Colby Kirk, former Martin County judge/executive and new president and CEO at OEK, said he wasn’t involved in writing this grant but wrote a letter supporting it while he was judge/executive.

“Each city included in the grant will receive approximately $45,000 that will be used to conduct a preliminary study to identify the greatest needs of each location, such as the types of businesses most needed in the downtown areas. That could also include recommendations for parks and recreational areas,” said Kirk.

“This is the first stage of a revitalization project for these areas and is a step in the right direction to identify each city’s unique needs. I know the City of Inez could greatly benefit from this grant, and I hope to be involved in writing additional grants to benefit other communities within the county.”