August 06, 2013

Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall Announce USDA Funding for Community Facilities in Southern West Virginia

BECKLEY, W.Va. – U.S. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, along with Rep. Nick Rahall (all D-W.Va.), Tuesday announced Federal funding has been awarded for community organizations in Mingo, Wayne and Wyoming Counties to renovate and upgrade community facilities.

“Investments in our rural communities are important to attracting businesses and residents and strengthening our economy,” said Senator Manchin. “This critical funding will support economic development projects in rural West Virginia that will improve infrastructure, create jobs and support local businesses. In addition, this grant money will purchase new equipment for our firefighters and first responders so that they can respond as quickly as possible when they are called.”

“Congress designed Rural Development to level the playing field for rural America. The shortsighted budget whackers in Washington need to visit these communities to see for themselves the value of the long term investments being made in southern West Virginia,” said Rahall. “I will continue to fight for this critical funding in the halls of Congress to protect the well being of our children, families, and seniors now and into the future.”

“Rural development grants and loans give these communities an opportunity to invest in facilities that are necessary for organizations to run, and the future of critical public safety operations,” said Rockefeller. “I’m thrilled for these counties – they’re getting a well deserved boost from the Department of Agriculture.”

The USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program has awarded the Beech Creek Volunteer Fire Department in Mingo County an $8,000 grant through to assist with their electrical and HVAC system upgrades to their fire hall, which serves as a local shelter for residents of the Beech Creek/Matewan area. The Wayne County Building Commission will receive a $1.43 million low-interest loan to complete the renovation of the Judicial Annex building in Wayne to house Magistrate offices and courts; the funds will also be used to replace the building’s roof.  The Wyoming County Council on Aging will receive a $1.5 million low-interest loan to renovate a former grocery store in the Mullens area into the Wyoming County Senior Center with more than 15,000-sq. feet of offices, meeting/activity and dining rooms, kitchen, library, computer lab and exercise room.

USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program helps support essential community facilities for public use in rural areas, including child care centers, hospitals, medical clinics, fire, rescue and police stations, and other public buildings and transportation to ensure that such facilities are available to all rural residents.

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