U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development West Virginia State Director Ryan Thorn announced last week that Rural Development is investing $12 million to strengthen infrastructure, enhance public safety, and support economic opportunities. Those funds include nearly $5 million for the Flatwoods Canoe Run Public Service district to improve and expand their sewer system in Braxton County.
“The funding announced today will have a significant positive impact on the people living in these communities,” said Thorn. “These investments are a testament of Rural Development’s commitment under the Biden-Harris Administration of creating new opportunities from the bottom-up, and middle-out, while leaving no one or no community behind.”
In total, Rural Development is investing $11,988,900 for five projects across West Virginia.
In Braxton County, the Flatwoods Canoe Run Public Service District received $4,975,000 to help complete a Sewer System Evaluation Study, and construct approximately 19,260 feet of gravity sewer pipe, 5,530 feet of force main, 97 manholes, 11 gravity line cleanouts, 10 force-main cleanouts, one lift station, one grinder pumping station, and other necessary fixtures.
Other areas receiving funding included: Grant County, the City of Petersburg received $5,508,000 to construct various improvements to its water treatment, storage, and distributions systems. In Marion County, the Worthington Volunteer Fire Department received $214,000 to purchase a 2,100-gallon fire tanker to service the town of Worthington, Marion and Harrison counties. In Morgan County, the Town of Paw Paw received $41,900 to purchase an all-wheel drive police vehicle. In Randolph County, the Randolph County Development Authority received $1,250,000 to build an event center at the former Elkins Railyard site. The investments are being made through Rural Development’s Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program and the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program.