July 22, 2021

Manchin Announces West Virginia Eligible For $3 Billion Economic Development Funds, $300 Million For Coal Communities

Funding is from the American Rescue Plan
    
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced that West Virginia is eligible to apply for six programs totaling $3 billion from the American Rescue Plan to support economic development across America. In addition, the Biden Administration and the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities will allocate $300 million for coal community economic development. West Virginia is the largest recipient of the EDA’s Assistance to Coal Communities program since the program began in 2015. Communities interested in applying for funding can find information here.
 
“Today’s announcement is great news for West Virginia’s economic development and recovery. Our coal communities continue to feel the impacts of a changing energy sector including the loss of jobs and economic development across our state and region,” said Senator Manchin. “This $3 billion investment in economic development across America is a step in the right direction, and the $300 million commitment to coal communities will make a world of difference for those communities in need. I look forward to seeing the projects funded by these programs across the Mountain State, and my office stands ready to assist any community who applies for funding.”
 
The funding programs include:

  •            Build Back Better Regional Challenge ($1 billion) to capitalize on American ingenuity and American workers by providing a transformational investment to regions across the country to revitalize their economies.
  •           Good Jobs Challenge ($500 million) is designed to help get Americans back in good-paying jobs. The program will develop and strengthen regional workforce training systems and sector-based partnerships with a focus on programs targeted at women, people of color and historically underserved communities.
  •           Economic Adjustment Assistance Challenge ($500 million) grants will help hundreds of communities across the nation plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work through projects tailored to meet local needs. 
  •          Indigenous Communities Challenge ($100 million) program will work hand-in-hand with Tribal Governments and Indigenous communities to develop and execute economic development projects they need to recover from the pandemic and build economies for the future.
  •         Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Grants ($750 million) program will focus on revitalizing the hard-hit travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries and accelerate the recovery of communities that rely on these sectors. 
  •           Statewide Planning, Research, and Networks Grants ($90 million) grants include funding for state planning efforts as well as grants to build Communities of Practice to extend technical assistance to support EDA’s work with grantees. 

Communities interested in applying for funding can find information here.