‘You see a lot of dirt turning’: New businesses continue popping up in Hazard

HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) – People in Hazard and Perry County have likely seen construction throughout town during the first few months of 2024.

Executive Director of the Hazard-Perry County Economic Development Zach Lawrence said new job opportunities and businesses are on track to make an impact.

Lawrence said the East Perry Development along Highway 80 is the home of a Go-Time gas station currently under construction.

“This is a locally owned convenience store company from some of the locals to our community in the region,” he said. “So that’s what I think is really exciting to see our own be very successful in the community and invest back into it.”

The gas station will also be the home of Moe’s Southwest Grill. They are expected to open in the fall of 2024.

Lawrence said there is a plethora of other businesses in the works as well.

“You see a lot of dirt turning and in the economic development world when you see dirt turning that’s always exciting,” he said. “We’ve got our veteran affairs clinic that’s going up right now, the timeline on that should be some time at the end of the year. Quantum is also under construction right now.”

The county is also planning to build multi-use athletic fields on the site. Lawrence added they still have roughly 50 acres on the East Perry Development available, but they are working on various other projects in town.

“We are really close to finalizing the details on a 4 or 5-box retail addition to our current shopping center,” he said. “It’s really exciting. It’s going to be some much-needed gaps filled and that just helps to prove the case as we’re out recruiting these other companies of saying ‘hey, Hazard is the place to be.’”

He added a recent study found some strong numbers that are also encouraging to prospective companies who are looking to move into the area.

”You know our city population is 5,500 people, right around that and our daytime traffic influx gets to 55,000,” he said. “So, we have a strong base here for the restaurants, the retail, all of that. I mean Hazard has always been the hub for the region with commerce and we continue to be that.”

Lawrence said they hope to finalize the box retail deal soon, and they will share it with the community when it is official.

Copyright 2024 WYMT. All rights reserved.