The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced that Schuylkill County Airport Authority, located in an Opportunity Zone in Pottsville, was awarded $99,990.

The grant will be used for the design of a master plan for a business park to be located on the Schuylkill County Airport grounds and the surrounding 675 acres.

The funds will be used to secure professional services to create a dynamic planning document that will provide a conceptual layout for the future growth and development of the business park. It will provide guidance with potential tenants and a provisional layout plan for the locations of each tenant type.

This project will expand and diversify Schuylkill County’s economic base and offer a broad range of job opportunities.

Also, the Greater Hazleton Community Area located in an Opportunity Zone in Hazleton was awarded $83,750 and will be used to purchase equipment for Greater Hazleton Community Area’s business incubator. The incubator will be utilized to assist approximately 13 businesses.