CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Monday that $3 million will be awarded to West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster to support disaster recovery efforts and address unmet needs across the state.
The funding will come from the Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund and will be provided to WV VOAD in $1 million installments.
“Last week, we traveled across southern West Virginia to hear directly from the people who live with these challenges every day,” said Governor Morrisey.
“We saw families dealing with serious infrastructure problems and people who have been looking for answers for far too long. We came back knowing there are places where we can make a difference, and this grant is a first step in that direction.”
WV VOAD works with a network of volunteer and faith-based organizations to coordinate skilled workers, volunteers and other resources to help West Virginians recover following disasters.
The announcement comes after Morrisey’s two-day Water Listening Tour across southern West Virginia last week. The governor made 11 stops during the tour, meeting with local elected officials, water system workers and residents to discuss infrastructure concerns.
According to the governor’s office, Morrisey heard about a variety of infrastructure problems during the tour, including damaged or unusable bridges that have created access issues for residents trying to reach their homes and communities.
“If you fix one of these bridges, you can change people’s lives,” said Governor Morrisey. “Government can’t solve every problem on its own, but we can work with good partners who know these communities and know how to get things done.”
The Morrisey administration said the grant is one part of its response following the Water Listening Tour. State officials will continue reviewing concerns and recommendations raised during the 11 stops while working with local communities and leaders on potential solutions to infrastructure problems across southern West Virginia.
