UPIKE to launch new center
0University of Pikeville President Dr. James L. Hurley and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers announced the creation of the Telecommunications and Information Technology Education Center at UPIKE.
“The University of Pikeville is aggressively pursuing opportunities to create new programs of study,” said Hurley. “The Telecommunications and Information Technology Center demonstrates our commitment to meeting the needs of the region. We will also be looking to partner with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, in particular Big Sandy Community & Technical College and Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College, to offer retraining.”
The university recently learned that the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program would be contributing $100,000 in start-up costs. The $4.5 million facility will be constructed adjacent to campus housing on U.S. 23 South. Hurley said UPIKE is also partnering with the City of Pikeville in applying for a Community Development Block Grant to construct the facility.
Increasing broadband access in Eastern Kentucky has been a focus of the Shaping Our Appalachia Region, or SOAR initiative, an effort led by Rogers and Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear. Rogers has said the “Super I-Way” will pave a high-tech future for the region.
“UPIKE is preparing students for one of the fastest growing industries in the nation, information technology. With this new facility in Pikeville, we will no longer have to ship students across the country for critical training,” said Rogers. “I applaud Dr. Hurley and UPIKE for creating partnerships with our local schools and business communities to develop programs like this, to enhance our workforce and train students for jobs that are growing in demand. The vision of this institution is reaping economic benefits for our entire region.”