June 20, 2013

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator. Joe Manchin, along with Senator Jay Rockefeller and Reprentative Nick Rahall (all D-W.Va.), Wednesday announced Federal funding has been awarded for community organizations in Wayne and Nicholas Counties to purchase new equipment.

"West Virginians choose their priorities based on their values, and that includes honoring our veterans and investing in the next generation,” Manchin said. “These grants do just that by providing a van to help transport our veterans to funerals and local military events, as well as building new equipment to promote outdoor physical activity for our kids. It is important to continue to invest in development projects like these to improve the services we can offer to our community members, especially when it comes to assisting our veterans and making sure our children are fit and healthy.”

“This funding award is great news for Nicholas and Wayne counties,” said Rockefeller. “The Friends-R-Fun Child Development Center and the Credo-Kenova American Legion provide services that our working families and veterans rely on almost daily. This fiscal boost is a great way to acknowledge and support their important work.”

“I am pleased to help in urging officials at USDA Rural Development to consider the needs of our State and to advocate in behalf of our local communities so that they can improve and strengthen their facilities and expand access to vital services, especially for our veterans and children,” said Rahall. “As budgets tighten, we must not waiver in our investments that create jobs and improve the quality of life for our State’s residents.”

The Ceredo-Kenova American Legion Post 93 in Wayne County will receive a $5,000 grant through USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program to assist in the purchase of a new 12-passenger van for an Honor Guard to attend Military/Veterans funerals and special events throughout the area, and to provide transportation as needed for community members that have no other means of transportation. Friends-R-Fun Child Development Center in Summersville will receive a grant of $5,000 to assist in the purchase of new multi-use and multi-age level equipment to promote outdoor physical activity. This new equipment will accommodate 5-12 year olds and will also include the safety ground cover that is required.

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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