Manchin and Capito Announce $3 Million in ARC Grants for West Virginia

Appalachian Regional Commission grants will support infrastructure, health and economic development improvements in West Virginia

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 8, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today announced that four West Virginia projects will receive a total of $3 million from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for infrastructure, health and economic development improvements.

The Logan County Public Service District’s Phase III-B1 Wastewater project will receive $1,500,000; the Town of Union’s Water System Improvements project will receive $1,000,000; the West Virginia Development Office’s West Virginia Enhanced Distressed Counties Flex-E-Grant Program will receive $100,000; and the Robert C. Byrd Center for Rural Health at Marshall University will receive $400,000 for continuation of the Appalachian Diabetes Control and Translation Project.

“By investing in water infrastructure improvements, economic development, and health education and prevention programs, we are enhancing the quality of life for so many West Virginians and helping to revitalize our communities,” Senator Manchin said. “This funding will provide underserved communities with access to the resources necessary to keep West Virginians safe and healthy and create new economic opportunities.”

“This funding gives a needed boost to struggling West Virginia communities,” said Senator Capito. “By improving local water and sewer programs, investing in economic development initiatives and supporting diabetes education and prevention, these programs will help improve the quality of life in some of our most rural communities and pave the way for economic growth.”

Program Details:

•        The Logan County Public Service District will receive $1,500,000 from ARC for the Phase III-B1 Wastewater project, which will provide sewer service to 116 households and 15 businesses in Lower Island Creek Road, Cherry Tree, Whites Addition, Yuma Camp and surrounding areas. The businesses and residents of the project area do not currently have access to a public wastewater system. This project will help provide safe and reliable sewer service and attract future investments in the region. In addition to ARC funding, other federal sources will provide $836,000, and local sources will provide $2,230,000, bringing the total project funding to $4,566,000.

•        The Town of Union will receive $1,000,000 from ARC for the Union Water System Improvements project. This project will significantly contribute to the region’s community and economic development goals by increasing the town’s water storage, enhancing reliability, providing the foundation for future water line extensions to unserved communities and enabling a local manufacturing company to expand production and create new jobs. In addition to ARC funding, other federal sources will provide $1,023,000 and local sources will provide $507,000, bringing the total project funding to $2,530,000.

•        The West Virginia Development Office will receive $100,000 from ARC for the West Virginia Enhanced Distressed Counties Flex-E-Grant Program. This program will provide mini-grants for up to $10,000 per project to fund small-scale, non-construction community development projects. The program is targeted to serve the state’s eight distressed counties, 17 at-risk counties and selected transitional counties. Highest priority will be given to projects associated with WV Blueprint Communities and the Turn This Town Around Initiative. In addition to ARC funding, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation will provide $75,000 and local sources will provide $17,300, bringing the total project funding to $192,300.

•        The Robert C. Byrd Center for Rural Health at Marshall University will receive $400,000 from ARC for continuation of the Appalachian Diabetes Control and Translation Project, which helps address diabetes in distressed areas throughout Appalachia. Since 2002, ARC and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have sponsored Marshall’s efforts to support local coalitions focused on diabetes education and prevention for thousands of people each year. This funding will provide additional training and technical assistance, and support continued grant assistance for the strongest coalitions. This ARC grant of $400,000 includes $200,000 in transferred CDC funds. ###