January 26, 2023
Washington, DC — U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV),
Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee and both members of the Senate Appropriations Committee,
today announced $4,887,325 in grants from the U.S. Economic Development
Administration (EDA) for several communities in West Virginia.
“Investing in our local communities creates good-paying jobs and spurs economic opportunity, and today’s announcement is great news for the entire state,” Senator Manchin said. “The EDA continues to be a strong partner for West Virginia, and these investments will strengthen economic development planning, upgrade water infrastructure, promote technology job training programs and more. I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of this funding for years to come and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for resources to support economic growth across the Mountain State.”
“The EDA is a key partner
in growing our state’s local economies, and today’s grant announcement
strengthens that collaboration across West Virginia,” Ranking Member Capito
said. “These grants will provide a boost to our core infrastructure,
increase research capacity, jump-start development planning, create jobs, and
help prepare the future workforce here in West Virginia. I look forward to
seeing the impact of these investments and, as ranking member of the EPW
Committee, will continue to lead efforts to support our communities through
EDA.”
Individual awards listed
below:
-
$2.3 million – Preston
County Public Service District No. 4, Bruceton Mills
- These funds will be used for
construction of a new well, piping, and appurtenances designed to
increase water capacity for several local manufacturing facilities. The
project will be matched with $572,000 in local funds and is expected to
support the creation of 69 jobs, retain 86 jobs, and generate $6.2
million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.
-
$1.2 million – BridgeValley
Community and Technical College, South Charleston
- This grant will help establish
a new green technology job training program in support of a new electric
vehicle manufacturing facility. The project will be matched with $288,872
in state funds and is expected to support the creation of 450 jobs and
generate $2.5 million in private investment, according to grantee
estimates.
-
$548,000 –
Southern Appalachian Labor School, Kincaid
- This grant will help establish
the Coalfields Workforce Construction Training program, providing
workforce certifications for displaced coal economy workers. The project
will be matched with $137,000 in local funds and is expected to support
the creation or retention of 40 jobs, according to grantee estimates.
-
$376,325 –
Marshall University Research Corporation
- This investment will support
the Marshall University Research Corporation with the operations of the
Heartland Intermodal Gateway Facility.
-
$210,000 –
Region VI Planning and Development Council, Fairmont/Marion County
- This investment will support
the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic
development strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the Region VI Planning
and Development Council, which comprises the counties of Harrison,
Marion, Monongalia, Preston, and Taylor. The CEDS process is designed to
bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an
economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional
economy.
-
$128,000 –
Eastern Panhandle Regional Planning and Development Council
- This investment will support
the Eastern Panhandle Regional Planning and Development Council with
procuring a contract employee to assist with the completion of a
recovery/resiliency study and the update and implementation of a
comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) for three counties
impacted by the downturn in the coal industry in the eastern panhandle of
West Virginia.
-
$125,000 –
Region VII Planning and Development Council, Buckhannon/Upshur County
- This investment will support
the Region VII Planning and Development Council, in partnership with the
Corridor H Authority, with completing a study to focus on the
opportunities for future development along Corridor H in the West
Virginia counties of Barbour, Grant, Hardy, Lewis, Randolph, Tucker, and
Upshur.
