Washington D.C., U.S. — The Economic Development Administration has awarded five counties in central West Virginia with $70,000 in federal funds to assist in job creation.
U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito announced Tuesday afternoon that the Economic Development Administration will provide the funds to the Region 4 Planning and Development Council to invest in job creation and economic development in the region.
Five counties are in that region: Fayette, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pocahontas, and Webster.
“It is critical that our public and private sectors work together to help boost our economy and improve the economic success in regions across West Virginia,” Senator Manchin said in a press release. “These funds will help us coordinate our resources more efficiently and provide the regional development and planning council with the support they need to overcome tough challenges, boost economic development and put hardworking West Virginians back to work.”
“Infrastructure development is critical to economic and job growth in our state. This investment will help improve infrastructure, diversify the local economy and foster collaboration between the public and private sectors,” said Senator Capito. “This funding is encouraging news for the Region 4 Planning and Development Council, as well as West Virginia’s families and businesses.”
EDA funding supports the development and implementation of CEDS–otherwise known as a comprehensive economic development strategy. The program’s goal is to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development road map to diversify and strengthen regional economies.