Economy

Our Economy

The coal industry has always been the primary driving force of the economy in eastern Kentucky. As the hub of coal mining east of the Mississippi, Appalachia provides power to much of the eastern part of our nation through our production of coal.

However, when Pike County began to lose high-paying jobs in the coal industry to mechanization and a downturn in the market in the 1980's and 1990's, local and state leaders worked hard to diversify the economy. Today, Pike County has an industrial base which is the envy of Eastern Kentucky. Here are some of the success stories of the past 10 years:

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Kellogg Company

Pikeville Plant Pike County's success story started in 1990 with the recruitment of Kellogg Company by then-Pike County Judge/Executive Paul Patton. Because the facility operated as a contract baker for various cookie companies, even producing some cookies for the Girl Scouts, you will still sometimes hear locals refer to the company as "the cookie factory." Unfortunately, when markets diminished in the mid-1990s, the company laid off most of its workers. Salvation came in the form of a purchase. The factory, located at Kimper on Johns Creek, was acquired by Kelloggs, a world leader in breakfast foods, in 1996. Under Kellogg's ownership, the Pikeville Plant has steadily grown as the company has spent several million dollars upgrading and expanding the Pike County facility's capacity. Kelloggs employs approximately 600 people at its Kimper location. In 2000, the Kimper facility was the main supplier of Kelloggs Nutri-Grain Bars in the United States and the number two supplier of Kelloggs Pop-Tarts.

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Mossy Bottom Industrial Park

Park Judge/Executive Patton (now Former Governor Patton) along with the late Pikeville Mayor Dr. William C. Hambley, established the Pikeville-Pike County Industrial Development and Economic Authority (IDEA) in 1988. The IDEA board, with the assistance of county and city governments, developed the Mossy Bottom Industrial Park on U.S. 23, north of Pikeville. The 40-acre industrial park has yielded tremendous results for the people of the region, with three companies which will eventually employee over 1,000 people locating at Mossy Bottom.

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Quality Workforce

Pike County's success in industrial and business recruitment is a direct result of its outstanding workforce. Every company moving into the region remarks on the skills and work ethic of their employees. The state is promoting the region as the 'New Appalachia,' a place where opportunity abounds for companies who need quality workers. Governor Patton and state officials are working hard to develop a new 100-acre industrial park in Pike County to provide opportunities for additional growth in future years.