Tag: Federal Grant

Coalfields To Receive $7 Million For Job, Infrastructure Growth

Federal grants of about $10 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce were awarded to four West Virginia projects Monday to help with infrastructure maintenance and economic development in the state.

Two of those projects are in the southern coalfields where the need for a more diversified workforce remains crucial.

“These projects will support business growth in West Virginia, diversify the state’s economy, and create new jobs for West Virginia residents,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

The largest award, $5.2 million, will go to the Huntington Stormwater Utility to repair the Huntington Floodwall, which officials said was structurally damaged in the 2015 and 2018 floods.

The goal for this project is to reroute sewer and storm drainage systems to protect downtown businesses, according to a press release. The project is expected to create and retain 750 jobs, the commerce department said.

The Coalfield Development Corp., a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing coalfield economies, will receive a federal grant for nearly $1.7 million. Three buildings in Matewan will be renovated to create a job-creation and training facility.

In 2019, West Virginia had the fourth-highest unemployment rate in the country. The new Matewan facility will specifically be geared toward unemployed coal miners – ideally creating 90 new jobs.

The Putnam County Public Service District and the Benedum Airport Authority also received federal grants for increasing water capacity to serve industrial needs and to renovate airport facilities, respectively. 

W.Va.'s Healthy Start Initiative Receives $1 Million to Support Pregnant Women

$1 million has been awarded to West Virginia to help improve the health of pregnant women and their children.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy Start Initiative awarded the funds to the West Virginia University Research Corporation.

U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin made the announcement in a joint press release Monday.

The funding is expected to help improve the health of mothers and children before, during, and after pregnancy by providing education, resources, and support.

“Alarmingly, maternal mortality rates are on the rise in the United States, and statistics are even more troubling in rural states like West Virginia,” Capito said. “In addressing this serious issue, grants like these help develop strategies and services that can improve health outcomes for mothers and their children both during pregnancy and after. The Healthy Start Initiative has been successful in West Virginia, and I’m hopeful these funds will continue to support families and save lives.”

“This funding will help improve the health of mothers and children in rural areas and ensure that they have access to health care through the Healthy Start Initiative. Many West Virginians benefit through this funding that helps reduce infant and maternal deaths through education and guidance for women in communities across our state. I applaud the work of the Healthy Start Initiative and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, will continue to support the funding of such wonderful projects,” Manchin said.

Since the Healthy Start Initiative began in 1991, it has grown from a demonstration project in 15 communities to 100 Healthy Start projects in 37 states and Washington, DC.

W.Va. Awarded Funds to Promote Arts & Culture

West Virginia’s arts and culture just got a boost through a federal grant.

The National Endowment for the Arts, or NEA, awarded West Virginia nearly $800,000 this week to support programs that aim to preserve the state’s cultural history and promote arts education.

According to a release from the NEA, the funds are meant to help provide access to the arts for people across the country and support programs that provide jobs to artists, administrators, and other creative workers.

The majority of West Virginia’s award will be given to the West Virginia Division of Culture and History – through a grant of more than $650,000. The Heritage Farm Foundation, which works to preserve and develop Old Central City in Huntington, will see $75,000 of the grant.

Other groups that will see some of the funds, include the West Virginia Humanities Council ($34,000), the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra ($15,000), and Allegheny Echoes ($10,000) – an organization based out of Marlinton that helps support summer workshops that focus on Appalachian arts and music.

W.Va. Homeless Programs Get More than $8.3 Million

West Virginia’s U.S. senators say more than $8.3 million in federal funding has been approved for 63 programs across the state that help homeless people.

According to Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, the Department of Housing and Urban Development money includes more than $624,000 for the Huntington Housing Authority’s renewal of its food stamps program.

Other amounts include more than $717,000 in two approvals to the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness for a leasing project and renewing its information technology system for collecting client data.

Three approvals totaling more than Raleigh County Community Action Association for leasing, its expansion, supportive housing and rehousing total more than $510,000.

West Virginia City Gets $6.65 Million to Upgrade Water System

West Virginia’s U.S. senators say $6.65 million in federal rural development funding has been approved for building a new treatment plant and other upgrades for the water system in McMechen.

According to Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, that’s the largest piece of some $590,000 in grants and $8.7 million in loans approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for West Virginia communities.

The McMechen funding is also for installing ground well security, completing water line replacements and rehabilitating two water storage tanks.

Another $2.6 million for the Center Public Service District in Pineville is for replacing more than 6,000 feet (1,829 meters) of pipe and 38 manholes plus other improvements.

The Mingo County Redevelopment Authority will get $51,000 to study of feasibility of establishing a wood products industrial park.

Five W.Va. Counties to Receive Land & Water Conservation Grant

Five West Virginia counties will see federal funding to support improvements to their outdoor facilities.

Nearly $800,000 in federal grant money has been awarded to facilities in Tucker, Summers, Wayne, Marshall and Berkeley counties.

The grant comes from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which provides matching funds to state and local communities for acquisition, development and conservation of public parks and open spaces.

U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito released statements in support of the grant. Both cited the potential for growth in the state’s outdoor recreational opportunities.

The grant will support various improvements such as restoring a swimming pool, installation of some water and electrical services, and construction of picnic shelters.

Individual awards include:

  • $400,000 – City of Benwood to restore the swimming pool at Benwood City Park. This includes a new filtration system, gutter system, floor slabs, wall panels, decking, electrical upgrades, shade structure and ADA accessibility.
  • $184,871 – The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks to assist in the installation of water and electrical services to 32 sites in an existing campground at Pipestem State Park.
  • $100,000 – City of Parsons to assist in the installation of ADA compliant restroom fixtures and to construct a parking lot for their new splash pad at Mill Race Park.
  • $60,000 – Berkeley County Council, the City of Martinsburg and the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks and Recreation Board to assistant in the construction of two group picnic shelters, one at Faulkner Park and one at War Memorial Park.
  • $33,113 – City of Kenova to assist in the rebuilding and restoration of the tennis courts at the Dreamland Pool Complex, in compliance with the ADA.
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