WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $4.4 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to update economic development plans and support programs that help communities respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had terrible effects on our nation’s economy, and those pains have been felt all across West Virginia. Throughout this time, I have listened to West Virginians—from small business owners to medical professionals—and heard their concerns directly. Although we are all currently facing the crisis together, the solutions needed in the different regions of our state are quite diverse. This EDA funding will be given directly to our local development districts, who will observe the different factors that contribute to the economic landscape in their respected regions and identify the resources they need. Providing support directly to our communities will help strengthen our state on an individual basis during this difficult time. I am hopeful these investments will provide the support our state needs to be successful and I look forward to continuing my work with EDA to supply the resources we need back home as we battle COVID-19,” said Senator Capito.

“West Virginia’s local economies have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. This CARES Act funding will help our communities recover from this crisis, and I am pleased that the EDA is supporting economic development across West Virginia. I will keep advocating for future relief funding that supports our local governments and spurs economic recovery in the Mountain State because the fight against this pandemic is far from over,” said Senator Manchin.

 Below are the EDA investments announced today:

 

  • Region I Planning and Development Council, Princeton, West Virginia, received $400,000 in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance to fund enterprise Geographic Information Systems (GIS) licensing, data collection, and IT equipment necessary for economic recovery and revitalization.

 

  • Region II Planning and Development Council, Huntington, West Virginia, received $400,000 in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance to support the collection and analysis of economic data and trends critical to both short-term and long-term development in the region.

 

  • The Regional Intergovernmental Council (Region III), South Charleston, West Virginia, received $400,000 in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance to hire additional staff and supporting workforce needs.

 

  • Region IV Planning and Development Council, Summersville, West Virginia, received $400,000 in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance to identify and define shortfalls and gaps in reactionary and recovery efforts in all sectors, develop strategies to boost the region’s critical tourism sector, stimulate the growth of the timber industry, and implement technological advances to boost regional collaboration of resources and workforce development.

 

  • The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Planning and Development Council (Region V), Parkersburg, West Virginia, received $400,000 in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance address the future resiliency of the region and support the deployment of Geographic Information System to serve local governmental users.

 

  • Region VI Planning and Development Council, Fairmont, West Virginia, received $400,000 in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance to hire a consultant and use existing staff to aid their communities and local governments in identifying impacted areas and to provide support to numerous industries, including those in the oil and gas, technology, and tourism sectors, as well as small businesses.

 

  • Region VII Planning and Development Council, Buckhannon, West Virginia, received $400,000 in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance to support the region’s workforce needs and develop strategies to enhance the region’s economy, specifically focusing on the tourism and timber industries.

 

  • Region VIII Planning and Development Council, Petersburg, West Virginia, received $400,000 in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance to implement strategies that will provide local government’s greater access and increased communication with the Region VIII staff.

 

  • The Eastern Panhandle Regional Planning and Development Council (Region IX), Martinsburg, West Virginia, received $400,000 in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance to develop strategies to boost the area economy and expand on the success of the Western Potomac Economic Partnership, local development authorities and efforts that support opportunity zones.

 

  • The Belomar Regional Council (Region X), Wheeling, West Virginia, received $400,000 in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance to hire additional staff to identify, develop, and obtain funding for economic and community development projects within their serviced area.

 

  • The Brooke Hancock Jefferson Metropolitan Commission (Region XI) Steubenville, Ohio, which serves Brooke and Hancock counties in West Virginia, received $400,000 in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance to establish a community-based Business Recovery Center and implement strategies to enhance broadband services to improve education, employment, and telemedicine services.

 

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