MORGANTOWN, WV (LOOTPRESS) – U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development West Virginia State Director, Ryan Thorn announced on Wednesday that over $3.3 million in investments are being rolled out in support of local economic development plans and projects.
Launched in 2022, the Rural Partners Network was established to ensure that federal funding is able to make its way to historically underserved rural and Tribal communities. The recently announced $3.3 million in investments will support local economic development plans and projects in Rural Partners Network communities as well as neighboring communities across the Mountain State.
“The Rural Partners Network is creating new opportunities and helping our underserved rural West Virginia communities get the resources they need to prepare for the future,” Thorn said. “The investments I announced today are perfect examples of how [the Rural Partners Network] is working with rural communities to help them create jobs, build infrastructure, and support long-term economic stability on their own terms to help them thrive for generations to come.”
Totaling over $3,316,568, the grants and loans announced on Wednesday will support nine projects in local communities to address urgent needs and to establish sustainable growth on the economic level. Examples of such projects include:
“In Wood County, Westbrook Health Services will equip 17 sites throughout Wood, Pleasants, Ritchie, Jackson, Roane and Calhoun counties in northern West Virginia with video conferencing equipment to provide telehealth services. Medical professionals at Westbrook Health Services sites in Wood, Roane, Jackson, Pleasants and Ritchie counties in West Virginia will deliver mental health care including substance and opioid use disorder treatment to these locations benefiting 2,554 rural individuals.
In Braxton County, the Burnsville Volunteer Fire Department will build an emergency shelter and multi-purpose building. When not used as an emergency shelter, the space can store VFD equipment and supplies.
In Raleigh County, the Town of Sophia will construct a new wastewater treatment plant. The plant will be large enough to treat potential flows from the communities of Coal City and Princewick, which currently do not have municipal sewer systems.”
The announcement comes as part of a greater $194 million announcement made by USDA Secretary, Tom Vilsack. Additional information can be found at the USDA Rural Partners Network website.
