WEST FRANKFORT — The city of West Frankfort was recently awarded a $2 million grant from the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration to re-purpose the West Frankfort Mall to serve growing industries.

According to grantee estimates, the project is expected to create 218 jobs, retain 208 and generate $1.5 million in private investment.

Officials say the refurbishing of the West Frankfort Mall will help the city meet the needs of the region’s business community, many of which are impacted by significantly increased traffic. Specifically, the project will help to improve parking lots, install a new HVAC unit, ensure entryway safety and security, and build better roadways surrounding the building.

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission, which is funded by the Economic Development Administration.