Credit: Kevin Horn for Q95
On Friday, October 27, 2017, more than 650 people gathered on the University of Pikeville campus for the ribbon cutting and dedication of the institution’s newest facility, the Health Professions Education Building. The ceremony commemorated a significant milestone for the university, as the building is home to the only college of optometry in the Commonwealth and the 22nd in the nation. U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers gave the keynote address for the event, highlighting how UPIKE’s initiative is a blueprint for the rest of the region. Funding for the $72 million educational facility included grants from the US Economic Development Administration and Appalachian Regional Commission, as well as a low-interest stimulus loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Administration.