Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin
October 21, 2021
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $2 million from the American Rescue Plan to the Morgantown Utility Board to support water infrastructure improvements needed for a new beverage processing and packaging facility at the Morgantown Industrial Park. This funding is distributed through the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) as part of the $300 million allocated in the American Rescue Plan to support coal communities and is expected to create 300 good-paying jobs and generate $250 million in private investment.
“For years, I have fought for dedicated funding to support the coal communities who built this great nation and are feeling the impacts of the changing energy economy. Today’s announcement is the first award from the $300 million for coal communities in the
American Rescue Plan, which I successfully fought for to help all West Virginians. This investment in water infrastructure upgrades that serve the
Morgantown Industrial Park is a good first step in supporting impacted coal communities,”
said Senator Manchin. “The
American Rescue Plan continues to deliver critical relief to West Virginia communities by creating good-paying jobs and spurring economic growth and diversification, and I will continue to work with EDA to bring new opportunities to the Mountain State.”
The American Rescue Plan, which passed in March, set aside $300 million through the Coal Communities Commitment from the EDA to support coal communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and to help them create new jobs and opportunities. West Virginia is the largest recipient of the EDA’s Assistance to Coal Communities program since the program began in 2015.
In July, Senator Manchin announced that West Virginia is eligible to apply for six programs totaling $3 billion from the
American Rescue Plan to support economic development across America, including the $300 million for coal community economic development. This announcement is the first award from the $300 million Coal Communities Commitment.
