MORGANTOWN — Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito separately announced on Oct. 11 that West Virginia will receive more than $8 million in federal Economic Development Administration grants. Among them are grants for WVU and Pierpont Community and Technical College.
WVU will receive $747,123 for its LaunchLab Network, a one-stop commercialization and proof-of concept center created to facilitate small business development and foster economic growth. The money will aid expansion of the Morgantown LaunchLab and the creation of one in Beckley.
LaunchLab provides students, residents and small business owners with the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills and products that are not available in the traditional curriculum.
Pierpont Community and Technical College will receive $767,422 to assist with the purchase of training equipment at the Robert C. Byrd Aerospace Education Center to double the current enrollment, graduation, and placement program.
This project supports the Bom-bardier expansion project to create up to an additional 150 jobs and a private investment by the company of over $32 million.