Perry County Posts East Perry Plaza Development, Infrastructure and Commercial Prep Online

Perry County has published development details for East Perry Plaza on the county business page, and the Appalachian Regional Commission is dedicating $1.2 million to sewage and infrastructure at land near East Perry Elementary, moving a shopping-center plan that has been in the works for more than two years closer to realization. The county identifies the Perry County Fiscal Court and the county economic development office as stewards of the site, which sits along Highway 80 in Perry County.

The county web posting includes visual assets labeled perryplaza1.jpg and PerryPlaza_092319_2 Labeled.jpg and lists Hazard-Perry economic stakeholders as partners on commercial-development initiatives. Social-media speculation surfaced in early July about a Highway 80 shopping development, and county officials initially cautioned against raising expectations. Perry County Judge Executive Scott Alexander characterized the ARC funding as progress but not final: “This doesn't totally finalize it, we're not totally in the game, but without it, it couldn't have happened, but it definitely gets us closer.”

The East Perry Plaza posting arrives as related private investment advances elsewhere in the county. Alabama-based Drinkard Development announced a re-development of Black Gold Plaza in Hazard with an estimated $16.5 million in private capital. Drinkard’s project has publicly named tenants including Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx and Five Below, with a list elsewhere that also includes Dollar Tree. Drinkard and local partners say construction at Black Gold Plaza “advances daily,” and the storefronts are expected to open in May of 2026.

Hazard-Perry Economic Development Alliance Executive Director Zach Lawrence framed the developments as part of broader community investment. Lawrence said, “You got to have quality of life peace and you got to have places to shop and spend your money here locally too. So it kind of ties in with everything. We’re working on every bit of that.” He also noted momentum from the Black Gold announcement: “Since the announcement up here at Black Gold Plaza, we’ve had a few other private developments that have that have started construction or started looking seriously here at the area.”

Local leaders cited additional private projects tied to the retail push. Scott Alexander pointed to a new GoTime location “heading up the road” and to other food and service tenants being pursued, noting names such as Little Ceaser’s and Firehouse Subs among businesses mentioned for new development. Timelines published by local partners indicate the new GoTime is expected to be built by the end of 2026, while some accounts use the phrasing “by the end of next year,” reflecting calendar-year context used by local sources.

Officials and economic development partners say the combination of public infrastructure dollars and private capital is intended to unlock leases, job creation and new retail options in Perry County. Hazard Mayor Happy Mobelini described the announcement as “a huge win for the City of Hazard and Perry County,” saying it can affect revenue and job creation. County postings and developer announcements now set a schedule for infrastructure work and commercial openings that county leaders say will determine when construction and tenant build-outs can proceed.