CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), announced funding from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for two West Virginia projects.
These awards, which were secured through Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) requests made by Senator Capito, will provide funding to the City of Charleston, W.Va. for a youth employment program and support a West Virginia Region 4 Planning and Development Council workforce development and addiction prevention and recovery program.
“After talking with folks back home to learn about these projects, I am proud to deliver resources to West Virginia that will help young people, as well as those at-risk of addiction or in recovery, find pathways to meaningful employment while supporting local businesses,” Ranking Member Capito said. “As Ranking Member of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, I was proud to highlight the benefits of these projects for our state and personally secure the funding that will help them carry out their mission.”
Individual award details listed below:
$750,000 DOL CDS award to the West Virginia Region 4 Planning and Development Council (Summersville, W.Va.) to expand year-round greenhouse production and landscaping design workforce development training for individuals in recovery. The produce from each greenhouse will go to several Fruits of Labor locations, providing fresh local foods and support to other local food efforts in the region. It also serves at-risk youth as an addiction prevention program at Fruits of Labor. This award was secured solely by Ranking Member Capito.
$180,000 DOL CDS award to the City of Charleston, W.Va. to place youth into meaningful summer opportunities and career pathways to support small businesses. This project was discontinued prior to Charleston Mayor Amy Goodwin’s tenure, and the City of Charleston is now revamping, improving, and expanding this program.