CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The federal Appalachian Regional Commission has awarded $18.1 million for multiple projects in West Virginia.
The Governor’s Office announced the grant awards on Monday. The Appalachian Regional Commission is a federal body focused on economic and regional development efforts in 13 states from Mississippi to New York. West Virginia’s 55 counties are part of the commission’s scope.
The 14 projects focus on addressing area development and distressed communities:
— Partner Community Capital: $2.7 million for providing technical assistance services to tourism and recreation-based businesses, with services including business consulting and financial management.
— West Virginia Department of Economic Development: $250,000 for training and consultation services.
— West Virginia Department of Economic Development: $220,000 for continuing the agency’s Consolidated Technical Assistance program.
— West Virginia Rural Water Association: $211,692 for providing technical assistance to water and wastewater systems throughout the state.
— Region 7 Planning and Development Council: $100,000 for conducting site analysis to identify developable sites for industrial and commercial development along Corridor H.
— Oak Hill: $1.25 million for rehabilitating portions of the city’s wastewater system.
— The EdVenture Group: $53,055 for professional development for career and technical education instructors and training for students in Calhoun, Gilmer, Mingo, Nicholas, Roane and Wyoming counties.
— Marshall University Research Corporation: $569,617 for removing and renovating dilapidated buildings in 17 counties.
— Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center: $2.5 million for replacing the water and sewer lines at the Grantsville facility.
— Pleasant Hill PSD: $2.5 million for providing new water services to 77 customers in Calhoun County.
— Clay County Commission: $3 million for extending a waterline, providing potable water to more than 80 homes, businesses and churches along state Route 16.
— Reconnecting McDowell: $65,335 for purchasing and installing kitchen equipment for a restaurant at Renaissance Village in Welch.
— Richwood: $.275 million for replacing existing sanitary infrastructure and wastewater treatment equipment.
— Oceana: Repairing and replacing the town’s water delivery system.
“We truly appreciate all of the people and entities that have come together to make the funding for these projects a reality,” Gov. Jim Justice said in a statement.
“Whether they are providing leadership training to our people, financial or technical assistance to our businesses, renovating dilapidated buildings, providing much-needed infrastructure improvements in areas that haven’t seen them in awhile, and more, these projects are going to bring all kinds of goodness to West Virginia.”
Gayle Manchin, West Virginia’s former first lady and the wife of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., serves as the commission’s federal co-chair.