WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that $250,000 has been awarded to Pike County Board of Commissioners through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). The funds will be used to enhance infrastructure at the Pike County Manufacturing Center (PCMC) to provide 13 businesses with a new access road and sewer service. This project will retain 151 jobs and is expected to create 400 new jobs.

"Economic development is on the rise in Ohio's small towns and rural communities," Brown said. "These funds will create the infrastructure needed to support the new industries that will bring new jobs to Pike County."

The Pike County Manufacturing Center Improvement project will receive the total funding from several organizations: The Appalachian Regional Commission will fund $250,000; the Ohio Department of Development Industrial Site Improvement Fund will provide $750,000, the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation will provide $200,000, the Southern Ohio Agricultural & Community Development Foundation will provide $20,000, the Pike County Board of Commissioners will provide $86,400 and an Economic Development Administration grant will provide $1,959,600.

Last month, Brown delivered the keynote address to the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development and is a staunch advocate for job creation in Ohio's small towns, rural areas, and Appalachian communities. Following the speech, Brown was awarded the National Association of Development Organization's Congressional Partnership Award for his advocacy on behalf of the 23 million people of the nation's and Ohio's Appalachian Region. In Sep. 2009, Brown introduced new legislation that would support and create "business incubators" in hard-hit regions of Ohio and the country. Under Brown's proposal, more Ohio communities would be eligible to receive funds, with support through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) directed to economically hard-hit regions.

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