 In order to diversify the region's economy, shaping our Appalachian region approved finances for the Kentucky Appalachian Regional Development Fund. The city of Prestonsburg was awarded $78,000 through the card grant to use as a broadband strategic plan and feasibility study. It's for Eastern Kentucky and some of the Appalachian areas that's been heard the most by the declining coal. It's a technology grant. It's an opportunity for us to do some feasibility studies and some design planning for broadband in the city. Mayor Les Stapleton says having broadband in the city will attract other businesses to move into the area. Becoming a gigabyte city is going to increase our opportunity for businesses to come in. It's going to put us on the front edge of technology. It'll allow more data services, quicker downloads, quicker uploads, quicker processing information. Not only will it attract more businesses, it will also help the businesses already located in the city. If we're able to get broadband in here to the point where we have gigabyte service and we have the bandwidth to be able to handle all these services, it's going to help small businesses. If they can advertise not only locally but also nationwide. And that's where our goal is, try to connect us to the rest of the world and get things moving forward at an affordable rate. The Prestonsburg City Council also proclaimed May 1st through 7th Small Business Week in Prestonsburg. Reporting in Prestonsburg for EKB News, I'm Shelby Steele.