October 27, 2016

Manchin and Capito Announce Investments to Boost Economy and Create Jobs in Bluefield

Bluefield will benefit from more than $2 million EDA investment

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today announced that Bluefield will receive $2,040,000 from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to invest in development of an industrial incubator to serve start-up businesses in Bluefield. This region has been hit particularly hard by the decline in coal production, and this investment will help to strengthen the regional economy. The industrial incubator will create jobs, promote entrepreneurship and innovation, and will further develop West Virginia’s economy.

“Since, the founding of our state, West Virginians have always been hardworking and refused to accept the state quo. Today, as we work to strengthen and diversify West Virginia’s economy, we must make sure that our private and public sectors are working together,” Senator Manchin said. “This funding will help our state overcome its economic challenges by helping to foster sustainable growth and entrepreneurship in Bluefield.”

“Startups can power our small communities and bring new opportunities to the Mountain State, especially in areas that have been negatively impacted by harmful anti-coal policies. When I visited the Bluefield Commercialization Center in March, I saw the important role it can play in growing our economy and our manufacturing industry for years to come. I test drove a remote controlled lawnmower that is being manufactured at this facility and learned how the large space offered by the 60,000 square foot facility is boosting small manufacturing businesses. Incubator projects are needed to lay the groundwork for tech innovation in Southern West Virginia, and I am glad this valuable funding is being awarded to the City of Bluefield,” said Senator Capito.

This project is funded through the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative.  POWER is a coordinated effort, involving multiple federal agencies, with the goal of effectively aligning federal economic and workforce development programs and resources to assist communities negatively impacted by changes in the coal industry and power sector.

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