Governor Earl Ray Tomblin Story Archives - Page 3 of 32

Bombardier to Expand Bridgeport Service Facility

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin announced Tuesday the expansion of a North Central West Virginia facility expected to bring new jobs to the area.

Tomblin joined Bombardier Commercial Aircraft officials to announce plans to expand the Bridgeport aircraft service center. The facility currently employs around 400 people, but will double in size once the expansion project begins in the spring of 2017.

Tomblin estimated the new 300,000 square foot service center will employ an additional 150 people.

A Bombardier representative said the company was unsure of the number of new jobs the expansion would create, but they do expect an increase in their employment numbers.

The Bridgeport facility provides heavy maintenance for regional sized jets and turboprop planes in North America.

The service center has been open for 18 years and with the expansion will be able to accommodate 20 maintenance lines at a time, up from the 9 lines at the facility today.

Local Artists Can Make Ornaments for Governor's Tree

West Virginia artists are being asked to create and submit ornaments for the governor’s holiday tree this year.

The ornaments are to be hand-crafted and suitable for hanging on a tree.

The “Artistree” will stand in the foyer of the Governor’s Mansion and will be unveiled during the annual holiday celebration at the State Capitol complex on Dec. 6.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and first lady Joanne Jaeger Tomblin suggested the idea five years ago, and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History say it has now become a tradition for the family.

The deadline for submitting ornaments is 4 p.m. Nov. 18. A submission form is available online.

State and Federal Grants to Aid Laid-Off Coal Miners

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin joined environmental officials Friday morning to award a $1 million grant that will benefit workers affected by layoffs in three coal counties.

Tomblin announced the award Friday at the Ralph R. Willis Career and Technical Center, in Logan. He says the grant will support stream clean-up efforts in Boone, Logan, and Mingo counties.

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection says the state grant allows those who were laid-off to continue working and living in southern West Virginia.

And on Thursday, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito announced an $800,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families to help retrain laid-off coal miners at the Coalfield Development Corporation’s factory in Wayne.

The federal grant will help expand the group’s community job training programs and social services.

Tomblin to Award $1M Grant for Ex-Coal Miners

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is joining environmental officials to award a $1 million grant that will benefit workers affected by layoffs in three coal counties.

The state Department of Environmental Protection says Tomblin will announce the project Friday morning at the Ralph R. Willis Career and Technical Center in Logan.

Tomblin’s office says the grant will support stream clean-up efforts in Boone, Logan and Mingo counties.

State environmental officials say the grant will let workers continue working and living in southern West Virginia.

State Incurred About $300M in Flood Damage

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin says West Virginia incurred about $300 million in damages from deadly floods in June.

Tomblin told reporters Tuesday he plans to call lawmakers into session next week to address the state’s share of flood costs. Tomblin says in the worst case scenario, the state would cover about $75 million.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has said it would increase its cost share with the state from 75 to 90 percent if West Virginia can pinpoint about $254 million in damage costs or more.

Tomblin said the higher federal cost-share isn’t guaranteed. He said he’s also lobbying the Obama administration to include West Virginia in a congressional bill to aid Louisiana’s flood recovery.

The June floods killed 23 people and destroyed homes, businesses, schools and infrastructure.

Help4WV Line Celebrates First Anniversary

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin was joined by state and local officials Friday to celebrate the one-year anniversary of a 24-hour, statewide hotline used to help those with addiction.

The statewide hotline, 1-844-Help4WV, is a phone number people can call if they’re dealing with substance abuse or behavioral health problems. The call center also provides help to those dealing with thoughts of suicide or depression. Tomblin said substance abuse prevention services are now available in all 55 counties. He said the hotline has been successful so far.

“In the past year the call line has received over 5,200 calls of those, 2,250 were individuals asking and seeking help,” Tomblin said. “I’m proud to report that each of the 2,250 West Virginians that sought help were connected to at least one resources to begin or continue their fight against addiction.”

The program is also being utilized at correctional facilities to help ensure inmates have access to rehabilitation as well.