THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF WV GOVERNOR JOE MANCHIN.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gov. Joe Manchin today announced additional recommendations of 10 projects totaling more than $5 million in grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Investment Program.

“These projects represent a comprehensive approach that will address many of our economic and community development needs. We are pleased to have such a strong commitment from ARC and our local partners to ensure that we continue to grow our economy and provide a brighter future for West Virginia,” Governor Manchin said.

The West Virginia Development Office administers the state’s ARC program, which is a partnership of federal, state, and local participants providing financial and technical assistance for economic development and infrastructure projects.

Projects recommended for ARC funding include:

AREA DEVELOPMENT

STATEWIDE
West Virginia Development Office $350,000
Consolidated Technical Assistance
The West Virginia Development Office, with ARC funding assistance, will continue the Consolidated Technical Assistance program. The grant allows the West Virginia Development Office to employ staff for the purpose of providing technical assistance to ARC applicants and grantees, monitoring and administering ongoing projects, updating the West Virginia Development Plan, and maintaining a project information system.

STATEWIDE
West Virginia Division of Culture and History $200,000
West Virginia State Museum Education Project
The project will assist with the development of an educational curriculum for the new West Virginia State Museum, and provide computers and lab-related equipment for the museum’s education centers. This project will increase learning opportunities for students statewide, enhance tourism, and improve the quality of life for all of West Virginia’s citizens.

PLEASANTS COUNTY
Union Williams Public Service District $508,875
Pleasants County Industrial Center Sewer Upgrade
The project will upgrade and expand the wastewater collection system at the Pleasants County Industrial Center, increasing economic opportunity in the region by allowing future growth at the Industrial Center to take place. The project provides services to four existing businesses at the Center and facilitates the creation of up to 150 new jobs.

STATEWIDE
Workforce West Virginia $250,000
Competitive Improvement Program
The project will provide training and consultation services to small and medium-sized firms in West Virginia to increase their competitiveness. The project will address a unique need for which no other funding sources are available. The results of these services will be a greater number of companies that are increasing the range of their market and market share, and a commensurate increase in the number of jobs retained or created.

MULTI-COUNTY
Advantage Valley $100,000
Entrepreneurial League System®
The project will provide training through an intensive coaching process for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses beyond the start-up phase. This project will enhance economic growth and expand job opportunities for business owners and residents in an eight-county region.

MULTI-COUNTY
Canaan Valley Institute $96,811
Wastewater Solutions for West Virginia’s
Small Communities
The project will provide assistance with the management, planning, and installation of decentralized, on-site wastewater systems in a three county region in southern West Virginia. This project will serve 20 customers who currently rely upon inadequate treatment systems or discharge directly into local streams.

DISTRESSED COUNTIES:

McDOWELL COUNTY
City of Welch $1,200,000
Welch Sewer Lines Contract 7C
Woodmont Neighborhood
The project will replace wastewater collection lines that are deteriorating along Virginia Avenue and the Woodmont neighborhood of Welch and bring it into compliance with a consent decree mandating the phased replacement of the city's sewer collection lines. The project will serve 51 customers.

LINCOLN COUNTY
Branchland-Midkiff Public Service District $1,500,000
Tenmile Waterline Extension Project
The project will extend water service for the Tenmile Creek Road, Upper Tenmile Creek Road, Plumb Branch, and Bearwallow Branch areas of Lincoln County. Currently, residents in the project area rely upon wells and cisterns that fail or must haul water from an off site source for consumption. The project will serve 154 customers.

BRAXTON COUNTY
Braxton County Commission $1,500,000
Sugar Creek PSD Phase 1 Waterline Extension
The project will extend water service to residences in the Tague and Wilsie areas of Braxton County. Currently, the residents in the project area rely upon wells and springs that provide poor quality of water. The project will benefit 125 customers.

REGIONAL INITIATIVES:

MINERAL COUNTY:
Mineral County Development Authority $25,000
Mineral County Broadband Project
The project will create a master plan for the installation and operation of a broadband communication infrastructure for Mineral County. This plan will address the current and future needs of residents and businesses in the county, increasing economic development and improving the quality of life for the county and region.