PIKEVILLE — The University of Pikeville (UPIKE) will begin phase 1 construction of the university’s Bear Mountain Sports Complex thanks to a $5 million Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grant awarded during the annual SOAR (Shaping Our Appalachian Region) Summit last week in Pikeville.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) were on hand to announce several million dollars in AMLER Program funds for economic development projects.

UPIKE’s $5 million grant will jump-start this first phase, though additional fundraising will be essential to completing the project. An additional $8.7 million awarded from the Commonwealth of Kentucky brings total funding for Bear Mountain to over $15 million.

The Bear Mountain site is an abandoned coal mining site that will be home to several new sports stadiums to serve football, soccer, baseball, softball and track and field. It will also include a new archery range and a 3D archery course. The first phase will see the construction of a new football stadium, complete with a press box, bleachers, a turf field, a scoreboard and ample parking.