Hazard, KY. – Nearly $34 million in grants were announced this year at the 2019 SOAR summit in Pikeville including $1.5 million for the USA Drone Port located on the Knott/Perry county line.

The grant will help expand the runway by 400 feet, build a new hanger with workspace and construct a 10,000 square foot indoor research and development space.

Bart Massey, Executive Director of USA Drone Port, says this is a project many have spent a lot of time on. 

“We know one of the missions we have had for years that we have been working on is going to be able to be completed,” said Massey. “I was excited, to say the least.”

The 10,000 square foot indoor research and development facility allowing ideas and research to take off to new heights.

“Indoor flight facility for people to be able to bring in ideas and test them in there,” said Massey. “Even though they can’t in airspace with FAA regulations necessarily they can in there. Hopefully, get those approved so it will help move things forward in robotics in the united states.”

Massey says this allows the world to see the potential Eastern Kentucky has always had.

“Here in Eastern Kentucky we’ve known ourselves that we have amazing abilities here we’ve just had to show the rest of the world,” said Massey. “I think the future is bright. I do I think it is very bright for us.” 

Massey says he hopes to have construction begin sometime in the spring. 

To learn more about USA Drone Port, visit their website.