City of Hazard and Perry County Fiscal Court Receive $2 Million CDBG Grant for SYKES Facility Rehabilitation Project
Grant Will Fund Buildout of Call Center Facility
FRANKFORT, Ky. (October 30, 2019) – The Department for Local Government (DLG) today announced a $2 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation for the City of Hazard and Perry County Fiscal Court to complete the buildout of an industrial building that will accommodate a call center resulting in the creation of 200 jobs.
“We are excited today to announce $2 million in CDBG grant funding for the City of Hazard and Perry County Fiscal Court,” said Gov. Matt Bevin. “Our Department for Local Government works closely with local officials to address priority projects that will most positively impact their communities. This significant investment is based on those discussions and will enable vital economic development improvements to be made.”
SYKES is a customer service center that operates in 23 countries. Intuit is a global financial platform company and is the developer of Quickbooks, TurboTax, and Mint computer software. The project will allow for SYKES to provide customer service and technical support service for Intuit products, mostly QuickBooks. Sykes Enterprises, Inc. and Intuit, Inc. have collaborated to create 200 jobs in Perry and surrounding counties through this project.
The project will allow for the renovation of the interior of the existing 45,198-square-foot SYKES facility. The project requires phased demolition which will include floor finishes, walls, ceilings, furniture and associated construction. The new construction will include training rooms, conference rooms, new offices, and the expansion of an existing break room area. Additionally, modification to the existing mechanical, electrical, plumbing and data systems will be required.
“As this region builds a new economy, diversification of employment is now more critical than ever,” said DLG Commissioner Sandra Dunahoo. “The brands represented within the Intuit family are utilized across the world and this opportunity truly demonstrates the power that broadband has towards bringing Appalachia into a global market.”
"This grant will have a substantial impact on the success of our workforce in Southeast Kentucky," Sen. Brandon Smith said. "I'd like to thank the Department for Local Government for their efforts in securing these funds for SYKES' rehabilitation project."
“SYKES is an important employer and a great community partner and I am glad that Gov. Bevin has awarded funds to ensure that SYKES can continue to modernize their facility,” Rep. Chris Fugate said. “With this project, SYKES will continue to be a successful and valuable part of the Hazard community.”
Community Development Block Grant Program
The CDBG program, overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides assistance to communities for use in revitalizing neighborhoods, expanding affordable housing and economic opportunities, providing infrastructure and/or improving community facilities and services.
About the Department for Local Government
DLG is an arm of the Office of the Governor dedicated to supporting local officials and communities. To learn more about opportunities available through DLG, visit http://kydlgweb.ky.gov/.
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