Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.5 million grant to the town of Pineville, West Virginia, for sewer system upgrades and construction of a new water treatment plant.
This project will support current business operations and provide for continued industrial growth in a region impacted by changes in the energy economy. This EDA investment, to be matched with $5.3 million in state and local funds, is expected to retain 239 jobs, according to grantee estimates.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda empowers all communities – including those impacted by shifts in the energy sector – to grow and diversify their economies,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment in critical water infrastructure will serve as an economic driver in the region, allowing current businesses to expand while paving the way for new job creation.”
“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to partner with Pineville in its place-based approach to bringing new opportunities to the region,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA grant will increase local water capacity to support business expansion and provide a much-needed boost to the regional economy.”
“In order to ensure every West Virginian has access to safe, reliable water systems, we must regularly upgrade and improve our water infrastructure throughout the state,” said Senator Joe Manchin. “The EDA continues to drive economic development in West Virginia through targeted investments in our local communities, and today’s announcement is great news for Pineville and all of Wyoming County. I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of this project for years to come, and I will continue advocating for resources to bolster water and wastewater infrastructure across the Mountain State.”
“Through our collaboration with the EDA, the Environment and Public Works Committee, where I serve as Ranking Member, has supported projects that provide tangible benefits for local communities across West Virginia,” said Senator Shelley Moore Capito. “Water and wastewater upgrades, as well as other infrastructure improvements, are critical to our state’s success, and I’m thrilled West Union, Pineville, and the Northern Panhandle are receiving these investments today.”
This project is funded under the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) initiative, through which EDA awards funds on a competitive basis to assist communities severely impacted by the declining use of coal. ACC projects support economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development, and re-employment opportunities.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.