CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — New funding was announced on Thursday for a $8.3 million project surrounding the Raleigh County Memorial Airport in southern West Virginia.
The project aims to upgrade infrastructure on 105 acres (about 43 hectares) of land to attract commercial and industrial development. It won $3.5 million in award funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Appalachian Regional Commission. State, local and private sources will provide $4.8 million in additional funding.
“This project will give Southern West Virginia an opportunity to diversify the economy and workforce by attracting new investments in the aerospace and aviation sectors,” U.S. Sen Joe Manchin said in a statement.
U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said the project would not be possible “without the help of local leaders in Raleigh County and the local economic councils.”
The co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, Tim Thomas, said the economic development organization provided a $1.75 million grant.