The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has released $420,000 to strengthen regional economic development planning in West Virginia including Braxton County. The funding will support designing and implementing comprehensive economic development strategies (CEDS) through four regional planning and development councils across the state.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, in making the announcement said, “Investing in regional economic development planning is critical for creating good-paying jobs and spurring opportunity for all West Virginians. The EDA continues to be a strong partner for West Virginia, and today’s announcement is great news for our entire state,” said Senator Manchin. “These investments will allow the regions to compete and thrive and I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of the funding for years to come. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for resources to support economic growth across the Mountain State.”
Region 7 Planning and Development Council will receive $70,000 of the funding. This money will support the development and implementation of a CEDS for the counties of Barbour, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Randolph, Tucker and Upshur.
Also included in the alloctoins were: $210,000 – Region I Planning and Development Council for the counties of McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming; $70,000 – Eastern Panhandle Regional Planning and Development Council for the counties of Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan and nine municipalities; $70,000 – Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Planning and Development Council CEDS for the counties of Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Richie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood.