Three West Virginia organizations will receive grants
MORGANTOWN W.Va. – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Ryan Thorn recently announced a new slate of projects to strengthen basic infrastructure and upgrade essential facilities in four West Virginia communities participating in the Rural Partners Network (RPN).
The Biden-Harris Administration launched the network in April 2022 to ensure people in historically underserved communities receive their fair share of funding from federal agencies. Since then, USDA has provided more than $1 billion to support thousands of economic development projects in RPN communities.
“From upgrades to major water and wastewater infrastructure, to construction and renovation of essential community facilities, the funding announced today will have a significant impact on the people living in these communities,” said Thorn. “Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris administration, Rural Development is committed to improving infrastructure and creating new opportunities for the people living in our rural communities. The Rural Partners Network is a testament to that commitment and to ensuring that resources for rural communities continue to reach the people who need them the most.”
In West Virginia, four organizations will receive a total of $6,635,000 as follows:
- The Red Sulphur Public Service District will receive a Water and Waste Disposal Grant in the amount of $334,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to provide additional funding to help extend water service and fire protection to potential new customers in the Adair Road, Little Rich Creek, and Pinhook Road areas. Due to the excess capacity of the water treatment plant, no plant modifications will be needed to provide the extra water needed. In addition, the elevation of the system and potential customers will allow for the tanks and pumps to operate the system without any additional tanks or pumps.
- McDowell County Commission will receive a Community Facilities Grant in the amount of $5,468,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to construct a county commission building to house the County Commission, Magistrate Court, Day Reporting, Probation Office, and the West Virginia Extension Office. This project received Congressionally Directed Spending funds.
- Montgomery Building Commission will receive a Community Facilities Grant in the amount of $833,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to upgrade the Montgomery City Hall facility. The project will replace the roof, upgrade the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, upgrade restrooms, replace several windows, and make building access points compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The project will benefit the city’s 1,638 residents.
In total, the USDA is awarding approximately $49 million in grants and loans nationwide to support 59 economic development projects in communities in nine states and Puerto Rico. View the full list of investments online.The investment will help rural and Tribal communities address immediate needs and create sustainable economic growth. Many of these projects are the direct result of collaboration between community networks and federal RPN staff living and working in the communities.
Projects will lower costs for families and small businesses, create jobs and expand business opportunities. Communities will use funding to transition to clean energy, modernize infrastructure, provide affordable housing and enhance community water and food supplies.
These investments come a week after the White House announced a memorandum of understanding that formalizes the relationship between government and philanthropy to provide a strategic focus on rural communities that addresses barriers to accessing federal programs with a specific focus on advancing equity and prosperity in rural America. This partnership will enhance RPN’s work by helping communities develop applications, plan projects, and leverage pre-development expenses and matching funds.
Background: Rural Partners Network
Launched in April 2022 and expanded in November 2022, RPN is now active in 36 community networks in 10 states and Puerto Rico.
Community networks receive support from full-time USDA staff who live and work locally. These staff members provide technical assistance based on each community’s needs, helping them navigate federal programs, build relationships and apply for funding. In addition to USDA staff, there are staff at more than 20 other federal agencies dedicated to RPN and making resources across the government easier to access for people in rural communities.
RPN communities also benefit from coordination through other federal efforts such as the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization and President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative and Investing in America agenda. The Rural Prosperity Interagency Policy Council, co-led by the White House Domestic Policy Council and USDA, advises the RPN program and ensures rural voices are heard and reflected in national policies that will benefit all people in rural communities. For more information on RPN, visit Rural.gov.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/wv.
