State Senator Ray Jones of Pikeville says the effectiveness of the SOAR initiative will eventually come down to money. The Democrat supports and is participating in the “Shaping Our Appalachian Region” effort launched by Congressman Hal Rogers and Governor Beshear. It’s an attempt to improve and diversify the eastern Kentucky economy in response to the decline of its coal industry. Working groups created by SOAR meet in Somerset Thursday as part of the East Kentucky Leadership Conference.
Senator Jones is heartened by financial commitments already made to improve broadband access in the region. However, he says, other projects are going to require funding, too…
Jones says Kentucky will have to decide whether to invest in its infrastructure and people or cut programs and services that impact the Commonwealth’s quality of life.