Grants Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

FEMA Major Disaster Declaration Aids 5 Flood-Affected Counties

Residents in Boone, Calhoun, Clay, Harrison and Kanawha counties can apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

President Joe Biden has issued a major disaster declaration for five West Virginia counties affected by flooding in late August.

Residents in Boone, Calhoun, Clay, Harrison and Kanawha counties can apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

They can receive grants for temporary housing and home repairs, as well as low-interest loans for uninsured property losses.

Homeowners and business owners can apply by registering with FEMA, by using the FEMA app or by calling 1-800-621-3362.

$18 Million In W.Va. Infrastructure Grants Awaiting Approval

Gov. Jim Justice announced Wednesday more than $18 million in Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant funding recommendations for 11 projects across West Virginia.

The West Virginia Department of Economic Development administers the state’s ARC program, which is a partnership of federal, state, and local participants providing financial and technical assistance for economic development and infrastructure projects.

“We’ll wait and see if they’re all accepted, but I hope they will be and these upgrades are going to be phenomenal,” Justice said.

The governor’s recommendations will now be sent to ARC for final approval.

The grant recommendations include:

WV Rural Water Association — $187,392

Infrastructure Circuit Rider Project

The project will provide funding for a drinking water and wastewater circuit rider to provide technical assistance to water and wastewater systems in the state. The circuit rider will provide assistance and consultation to local utilities in areas such as leak detection work, preventing inflow and infiltration, utility finance and management, water and wastewater system operations, and loan servicing. The project will enable local utilities to address critical issues without having to hire additional staff and promote more efficient operation and management of existing systems.

Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport Authority — $49,483

MRB Air Cargo Market Demand and Feasibility Study

The project will increase economic development in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia (Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson Counties) by conducting an air cargo feasibility study for the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport and an industry sector market analysis for the James Rumsey Technical Institute’s entrepreneurship center.

Lincoln County

Hamlin Public Service District — $3,325,000

Hamlin Sewer Replacement and Upgrade

The project will upgrade the existing storm water and sewer system in the Hamlin area of Lincoln County. In addition, the project will extend sewer service to the Lincoln County Business Park. The existing system currently experiences high rates of inflow and infiltration and is beyond its useful life. The project will benefit 678 existing customers and expand economic development opportunities in the area by extending sewer service to the business park.

Barbour County

Town of Junior — $1,452,000

Junior Water System Improvements

The project will upgrade the existing water distribution system in the town of Junior in Barbour County, including replacing water lines, valves, water meters, and fire hydrants. Many of the town’s water lines are at the end of their useful life and require frequent maintenance to repair breaks and leaks. The project will benefit 396 existing customers

Webster County

Cowen Public Service District — $3,000,000

Birch River Route 82 Water Extension

The project will extend public water service to 60 new customers along Route 82 in Webster County. Customers in the project area use unreliable private wells that run dry or contain high levels of contaminants. The project will provide residents in the area with a source of safe and reliable water and fire service protection.

Braxton County

Flatwoods-Canoe Run PSD — $2,575,000

Holly Gray Park Sewer Extension

The project extends sewer service to 79 new customers along WV Route 15 between the communities of Flatwoods and Sutton in Braxton County. Currently customers in the area use individual septic systems that are failing or discharge directly into nearby streams. The project will also upgrade wastewater facilities at Holly Gray Park, a county-owned park that includes recreational and camping amenities. The project increases quality of life for local residents, improves stream quality, and enhances outdoor recreation development in the area.

Wetzel County

City of New Martinsville — $800,800

AAA Mobile Home Water System Improvements

The project will install a new water distribution system in the AAA Mobile Home Park located in the Steelton area of New Martinsville. The current water distribution system in the park is antiquated and has experienced numerous line breaks and leakage. In addition, the current layout of the distribution system does not afford efficient access for operation, maintenance, and repairs of the system. The project will improve access and service and benefit 240 new customers.

Mingo County

City of Williamson — $4,200,000

Williamson Water System Upgrade

The project will upgrade the water treatment, storage, and distribution system in the City of Williamson in Mingo County. Currently, the system’s storage capacity is insufficient for existing customers and inhibits economic expansion in the area. Operations and maintenance costs are also high due to aging and failing equipment. The project increases water storage capacity and efficiencies in the city’s system and benefits 1,742 existing customers.

Roane County

Walton Public Service District — $2,000,000

Walton Sewer Project

The project will construct a wastewater treatment plant and collection system to serve approximately 115 residential and commercial customers in the Walton area of Roane County, including Walton Elementary School. The project area currently has raw sewage discharging into nearby waterways, and the lack of public sewer inhibits the development of local housing and businesses.

West Virginia Department of Economic Development — $220,000

Consolidated Technical Assistance

The West Virginia Department of Economic Development (WVDED), with ARC funding assistance, will continue the Consolidated Technical Assistance program. The grant allows WVDED to employ staff for providing technical assistance to ARC applicants and grantees, monitoring and administering ongoing projects, drafting and implementing the West Virginia Development Plan, and operating the West Virginia Main Street and ON TRAC programs.

West Virginia Development Office — $250,000

Competitive Improvement Program

The project will provide training and consultation services to small and medium-sized firms in West Virginia to increase their competitiveness. The project will address a unique need for which no other funding sources are available. The results of these services will be a greater number of companies that are increasing the range of their market and market share, and a commensurate increase in the number of jobs retained or created

Round Of Funding To Support AmeriCorps W.Va. Volunteers

More than $1.5 million is going to support volunteers engaged in the AmeriCorps Vista program around the state. The program sends volunteers to local organizations that help fight poverty and support education programs.

The money will support 102 volunteers statewide, including 65 at three organizations in Charleston. That includes the nonprofits West Virginia Community Development Hub, Education Alliance and Step By Step, which helps disadvantaged youth in the coalfields region.

Thirty-two volunteers at West Virginia University in Morgantown and five at the Rural Appalachian Improvement League in Mullens will also be supported.

Specific funding includes:

$455,744 to West Virginia University Research Corporation in Morgantown
$448,812 to Step by Step in Charleston
$361,440 to West Virginia Community Development Hub in Charleston
$248,490 to Education Alliance – Business and Community for Public Schools in Charleston
$112,950 to Rural Appalachian Improvement League in Mullens

An initial $8 million was announced last week to help support AmeriCorps programs addressing literacy, diet health and opioid addiction prevention in the state.

Federal AmeriCorps Funding To Support Service, Education Programs Throughout State

AmeriCorps is sending more than $8 million to five programs across the state as part of its state and national grant program.

The money will fund a literacy mentorship program at West Virginia University, an education and leadership program in Hillsboro, and an opioid prevention program for grade school students in Charleston.

Other programs receiving funding, but not related to education, include supporting the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area in Elkins and a program that addresses diet-related health disparities in underserved communities in Wheeling.

Specific funding for each of the programs include:

$1,724,777 – West Virginia University, Morgantown
$1,154,600 – High Rocks Educational Corporation, Hillsboro
$894,735 – United Way of Central West Virginia, Charleston
$792,000 – Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, Elkins
$310,984 – Grow Ohio Valley, Wheeling

AmeriCorps separately announced $1,610,047 in funding for the National Council on Aging branch based in Wheeling Thursday. It’s set to place 72 senior AmeriCorps volunteers in the Northern Panhandle counties into the workforce by the end of its three-year grant cycle.

Volunteer West Virginia is also receiving nearly $1.7 million. The agency will use the money for more statewide resources during the next few months.

Funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, the federal stimulus bill passed in 2021. It will affect 555 AmeriCorps volunteers working in West Virginia.

A Discussion About The Pleasants Power Station This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, energy and environment reporter Curtis Tate speaks with Sierra Club Senior Campaign Representative Karan May about the West Virginia Public Service Commission’s recent agreement to allow a plan to keep the Pleasants Power Station from shutting down at the end of May. Consumer and environmental groups, large industrial users and even the PSC’s Consumer Advocate testified against it.

On this West Virginia Morning, energy and environment reporter Curtis Tate speaks with Sierra Club Senior Campaign Representative Karan May about the West Virginia Public Service Commission’s recent agreement to allow a plan to keep the Pleasants Power Station from shutting down at the end of May. Consumer and environmental groups, large industrial users and even the PSC’s Consumer Advocate testified against it.

We also hear from The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh, about a recent public meeting with the EPA. After the train derailment in East Palestine in early February, the agency tested the soil for chemicals, but some people came with their own results – saying they’re still being exposed to toxins.

Also, millions of federal dollars will help early childhood education and development in the Mountain State, and West Virginia experts say efforts to improve child mental health are showing positive results.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Concord University, and Shepherd University. Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Health Care Grants Available To Improve Outcomes In W.Va.

A local nonprofit healthcare quality improvement company, Quality Insights, is marking its 50th anniversary by offering $100,000 in grants to nonprofits and community organizations seeking to improve health and health care in West Virginia.

Quality Insights was established in West Virginia in 1973 and has since expanded to Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Dr. Jean Storm, medical director of Quality Insights, said the organization utilizes four tools in its work: science, data, education and collaboration.

“We have provided support for tens of thousands of health care providers, and have impacted millions of patients,” Storm said. “I like to say simply put, we are working behind the scenes to bring people and information together to improve health.”

The nonprofit plans to fund eight to 15 grants in amounts up to $20,000 in areas where its staff collaborates with community coalitions, healthcare facilities and patients to address provider care, grassroots efforts, and education and research.

The grant submission period is now open and will close on June 30, 2023.

For more information visit qualityinsights.org/50.