WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced that West Virginia University (WVU) was awarded $402,416 in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through a competitive grant program known as the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). The program awarded a total of $15.6 million in grants to various colleges throughout the country to encourage their education and research efforts to strengthen rural communities. Senator Capito has made funding for the AFRI program a priority during her time on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Specifically, WVU was chosen through a competitive process to receive funding for its work on the issue of water quality and irrigation systems. This money will be used to help advance a project proposed by WVU that aims to determine the most economically efficient form of water testing, as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Year after year, West Virginia University continues to make significant contributions in research and development,” said Senator Capito. “As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I prioritize this type of research and work to help advance the exciting efforts happening at our state’s universities. I look forward to hearing how this funding helps WVU’s research efforts produce effective results that benefit the nation.”
“This is wonderful news for West Virginia University and for our entire state,” Senator Manchin said. “Investing in academic research is an important way to ensure we continue to attract the best and brightest students to West Virginia. Our scientific research teams at WVU are the best of the best, leading the nation in innovation. I applaud WVU for their leadership and their continuing efforts to excel.”
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