Barrels and Broadband
Senator Capito visited Greenbrier County this week bringing great news! With the help of Senator Capito's office the town of White Sulphur Springs was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration. The grant is intended to improve water infrastructure critical to two projects in the town of White Sulphur Springs. “This grant goes to help a project that does so much more than create jobs,” Capito said of the funds. “This grant helps provide a brighter future for Greenbrier County. The EDA couldn’t have picked a more worthy recipient. I can’t wait to see the lives changed through this huge project — to rebuild White Sulphur Springs and provide economic stability for years to come.”
The new water line will allow a barrel manufacturer and lumber mill to operate in White Sulphur Springs as well as providing Greenbrier State Forest with a potable water source. The expected economic impact of the funds includes the creation of 82 jobs, retention 20 jobs and $35.1 million in private investment.
As we work to close the digital divide in rural America and other underserved areas across the country, this is another positive step in the right direction
Also announced this week, a fresh focus on improving broadband access across the Mountain State. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced this week that West Virginia is one of eight states with which it will collaborate to identify broadband availability across the country. The NTIA focuses on expanding broadband internet access and adoption. In order to get a better picture of current broadband access the NTIA will be collecting data on access in the states announced (also including California, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah). Senator Capito, co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus touched on the importance of West Virginia being included, "accurate availability maps are absolutely crucial for informed decision-making, and West Virginia will undoubtedly benefit from being a key player in this process to expand access." She continued, "I’m glad to see our efforts to deliver NTIA the resources to move forward with important projects like this one are paying off, and I will continue working through my Capito Connect program to make even more progress in better connecting our communities."
Local News Spotlight
WVNews: Parsons, WV, to receive $350,000 in federal funding to support flood recovery: “When disaster strikes, West Virginians work hard to help their communities and their neighbors recover,” Capito said. “Whether it is through donations or ensuring flood victims continue to have resources they need to rebuild their lives, private-sector leaders are critical partners in these efforts. This funding will help give area businesses in Parsons a location in which they can recover and create new opportunity for West Virginians.”
