More than $9.3 million in grants were recently awarded to support economic growth in West Virginia’s struggling coal mining communities thanks to the work of U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) and Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced the grants to foster economic development and support a number of programs in at least 10 counties in West Virginia.
“I have worked vigorously to help address the needs of West Virginia’s struggling coal communities, including making certain that EDA and ARC officials understand the unique challenges facing our state,” Capito said. “Although federal funding won’t undo the harmful effects of overreaching regulations, I am hopeful that the grants announced (on Thursday) will have a positive impact on West Virginia’s road to economic recovery.”
Capito hosted EDA Assistant Secretary Jay Williams on a tour of West Virginia’s distressed counties in 2015, and she hosted a meeting with Williams and West Virginia’s congressional delegation in May to discuss needed investments.
Securing the grants was a bipartisan effort between Capito and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV).
More than $2 million to help convert a 50,000-square-foot freight station into an incubator for new and existing businesses in Bluefield and Mercer counties was included in the grants.
Additionally, more than $1.7 million was awarded to establish a support system for entrepreneurs spanning 18 counties in southeastern Ohio, southern West Virginia and southeastern Kentucky.