USDA Announces Over $3 Million in New Projects
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development West Virginia State Director Ryan Thorn last week announced a new round of investments totaling more than $3.3 million to support local economic development plans and projects in Rural Partners Network (RPN) communities and other neighboring communities across West Virginia. Those funds will include a low interest loan of $115,000 to complete the funding for the Burnsville Volunteer Fire Department’s Emergency Shelter.
“The Rural Partners Network is creating new opportunities and helping our underserved rural West Virginia communities get the resources they need to prepare for the future,” said Thorn. “The investments I announced today are perfect examples of how RPN is working with rural communities to help them create jobs, build infrastructure, and support long-term economic stability on their own terms to help them thrive for generations to come.”
Since its inception, federal agencies have invested over $247 million across the 20 RPN counties in West Virginia. That’s 1,055 USDA investments in locally driven projects that improve local infrastructure, health care, housing, and connectivity.
USDA is awarding more $3,316,568 in grants and loans to support nine projects that will help rural communities address immediate needs and create sustainable economic growth. Many of these projects are the direct result of collaboration between community networks and federal staff living and working in the communities.
In Braxton County, the Burnsville Volunteer Fire Department plans to build an emergency shelter and multi-purpose building. The structure, to be located on the site of the old BVFD fire station, is estimated to cost just over $280,000 to construct and equip. The USDA plans to approve the low interest loan in the early part of 2025 according to representative of the West Virginia USDA office. The USDA funding is the final piece of the financing package, The balance of the costs are made up of an $81,000 grant from Governor Jim Justice’s office, $20,000 from the Braxton County Commission, $20,000 from the Town of Burnsville and $45,000 from the Fire Department.
Other projects around the state receiving assistance included: Wood County’s Westbrook Health Services will equip 17 sites throughout Wood, Pleasants, Ritchie, Jackson, Roane and Calhoun counties in northern West Virginia with video conferencing equipment to provide telehealth services. In Raleigh County, the Town of Sophia will construct a new wastewater treatment plant.
As part of the announcement, USDA Rural Development is also highlighting its ongoing work to determine how best to streamline its grant programs through an effort called Better Grants Better Service. Through this initiative, the agency is working to reduce barriers and improve access to its programs, the grant filing experience, and efficiency of the application process.
For more information, visit Rural.gov.