UPike receives $7.4 million grant for Kentucky College of Optometry

The Kentucky College of Optometry will both provide educational opportunities to students from nearby communities and improve health care.
The Kentucky College of Optometry will both provide educational opportunities to students from nearby communities and improve health care. | File photo
The University of Pikeville recently won $7.4 million in funding, the largest grant the institution has received to date, to establish the new Kentucky College of Optometry.

“I am delighted that through teamwork and collaboration, we have impressed outside funding agencies and enlisted their support for UPike’s mission, vision and plans,” University of Pikeville President Burton Webb said. “We are deeply grateful for the significant leadership and support provided by Congressman Rogers and the Big Sandy Area Development District.”

The Kentucky College of Optometry will both provide educational opportunities to students from nearby communities and improve health care in those communities through access, opportunity and education. Funding for the grant comes from the Appalachian Regional Commission and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, through the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization initiative, which seeks to aid communities impacted by the declining coal industry.

"Progressive programs and initiatives, like the Kentucky College of Optometry, are essential to the growth of the region, advancements in healthcare access, and professional recruitment,” Webb said. “Together, we can shape a brighter future for Kentucky’s Appalachian region and UPike is proud to help lead the way.”