CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced funding from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Transportation (DOT), as well as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Economic Development Agency (EDA), to support early childhood education, academic research, and infrastructure support throughout West Virginia. 

HHS FUNDING: Senator Capito, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), secured funding from HHS for Head Start programs across West Virginia to help bolster early education for children.

“I am happy to see funding from HHS coming to West Virginia to help invest in the future of our state’s children, providing them the tools they need to pursue a successful career and life from a young age,” Ranking Member Capito said.

DOT FUNDING: Senator Capito, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, also secured two grants from DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) program to reimburse operation and inspection costs to West Virginia accrued through the state’s oversight on pipeline projects that distribute energy resources throughout the state and the country.

“West Virginia has a proud history as an energy-producing state, and I am happy to see this funding from the DOT supporting our effort to continue operating our pipelines at the highest standard of efficiency and safety,” Senator Capito said.

EDA FUNDING: Senator Capito also secured funding from the U.S. Economic Development Agency (EDA) to support the development and implementation of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the Region 2 Planning and Development Council, which comprises Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, and Wayne counties.

“I am excited to see EDA investing in communities across West Virginia to help local economies reach their full potential. These resources offer opportunities to build a brighter future and support economic development efforts,” Senator Capito said.

NSF FUNDING: Senator Capito also secured funding from the NSF to support two research projects. The first is a research project based at the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC) that aims to simplify grant funding methods for academic research at higher education institutions. The second is a project at West Virginia University (WVU) that aims to improve computational imaging programs that can help with research and security.

“I am excited to see WVHEPC leading the effort to streamline our approach to how research is funded and conducted, ultimately increasing our country’s body of knowledge. This project has the potential to help make resources more available to all scholars pursuing important research in West Virginia,” Senator Capito said. “I am also happy to see WVU on the leading edge of developing computational imaging tools that can help improve the research and safety across several fields.”

Individual awards listed below:

$2,753,961 in HHS funding to the Fayette County Child Development Center (Oak Hill, W.Va.) to support Head Start programs in West Virginia.

$1,297,578 in HHS funding to the Raleigh County Community Action Association, Inc. (Beckley, W.Va.) to support Head Start programs in West Virginia.

$1,148,355 in HHS funding to the Mineral County School District (Keyser, W.Va.) to support Head Start programs in West Virginia.

$511,527 in DOT funding to the West Virginia Public Service Commission (Charleston, W.Va.) to reimburse 80% of the operating costs for state programs charged with inspecting transmission and distribution pipelines within state boundaries in line with PHMSA guidelines.

$200,000 in NSF funding to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) to research new computational imaging tools that can help expand research capability in a variety of fields.

$99,001 in NSF funding to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Charleston, W.Va.) for a research project entitled “Conference: Increasing STEM Grant Capacity Across West Virginia.”

$70,000 in EDA funding to the Region 2 Planning and Development Council (Huntington, W.Va.) to establish a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) framework, process, and strategy that supports private capital investment and job creation in the region. The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.

$33,995 in DOT funding to the West Virginia Public Service Commission (Charleston, W.Va.) to reimburse 80 percent of the operating costs for state programs charged with inspecting transmission and distribution pipelines within state boundaries in line with PHMSA guidelines.