BEAVER/BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – On Monday, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) visited Raleigh County Memorial Airport in Beaver to receive a tour and discuss new job creation through upcoming infrastructure upgrades with local stakeholders. Senator Capito also participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Bluefield Transit Center to mark the new bus terminal made possible by $2.2 million in funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
ON RALEIGH AIRPORT VISIT:
“Investing in West Virginia’s airports
is critical to keeping passengers and personnel safe, but also for fueling
growth and boosting job creation," Senator Capito said. “It was beneficial to meet with our local leaders today in Raleigh
County to see firsthand how these investments will make a difference right here
for workers and businesses alike.”
On
February 4, 2021, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced
a $1.75 million award to the Raleigh County Memorial Airport to provide
critical infrastructure upgrades at the airport that will facilitate the
development of 105 new acres leading to the creation of 624 new jobs. The
funding will add land, a new road connecting the airport to a rail spur, and
new site development. The project is part of a broader effort and partnership
between the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, the Memorial
Airport, and New River Community Technical College to diversify the regional
economy by attracting investment from the aerospace sector.
ON BLUEFIELD TRANSIT VISIT:
“It was great to be here today to
celebrate the expansion of our local transit system, but also to recognize the
revitalization of Bluefield as a whole," Senator Capito said. “This is just one piece of the city’s long-term plan to
encourage commercial and economic innovation. I appreciate Governor Justice for
his efforts in administering this key funding, as well as Dane Rideout and Jim
Spencer for their tireless work on this and so many other local projects.”
Through
a $2.2 million award from the FTA, the Bluefield Transit Center will now work
in conjunction with Bluefield, W.Va.’s and Bluefield, Va.’s separate local
public transit systems and the local Greyhound Bus. Riders from both cities
will be able to connect at the center and ride throughout each bus route. In
addition, the Greyhound Bus will use the center to pick up and drop off their
riders. Previously, all of the public bus stops have been open air shelters with
no escape from the elements. The new center will have indoor waiting areas and
public bathrooms.
Photos from today’s tour and
visits:
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) takes a tour of the Raleigh County Memorial Airport grounds in Beaver, W.Va. on Monday, March 29, 2021.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) speaks at the Bluefield Transit Center expansion ceremony in Bluefield, W.Va. on Monday, March 29, 2021.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Governor Jim Justice, and other local leaders pose together at the Bluefield Transit Center expansion ceremony in Bluefield, W.Va. on Monday, March 29, 2021.
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