U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, recently announced a more than $131.6 million grant award to the West Virginia School Building Authority, pending approval by President Donald Trump.
The state building authority will use the federal funds to replace two middle schools and a high school in Nicholas County, W. Va., that were all damaged by flooding in 2016.
The grant is to be provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is funded by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
“Today’s announcement is a long time coming for these Nicholas County schools,” Sen. Capito said on Jan. 31. “Through my chairmanship, I’ve worked extensively with FEMA Region III Administrator MaryAnn Tierney to make sure we take care of this community and get our kids back in proper schools.”
According to Sen. Capito’s office, she also spoke last week with FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor, who committed to work with the senator to better understand the ongoing recovery efforts taking place in West Virginia.
The grant award would consist of a 90 percent federal and a 10 percent state modification to FEMA’s cost-sharing agreement, which currently stands at 75 percent federal and 25 percent state, according to Sen. Capito’s office.
However, the modification only goes into effect if it is signed by the president.
“I look forward to continuing working with our partners in the administration to provide even more funds upon approval of the cost-share adjustment,” Sen. Capito said. “This is an important step in flood recovery, and I’m glad to deliver this funding today.”