Governor Jim Justice released more than $12 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds dedicated to infrastructure projects throughout the state. Gov. Justice also announced that for the first time ever, CDBG funds are being dedicated to broadband planning and infrastructure projects.
Governor Justice said, “My administration is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all West Virginians. The funds I released are going to bring valuable infrastructure projects to more than 30 of our counties. In addition to water and sewer projects that are common with this program, I am thrilled to be the first Governor to announce that we are dedicating CDBG funds to broadband development in 27 of our most rural counties. If West Virginia expects to be competitive with the rest of the world, we must have high speed internet connectivity. This funding reflects our commitment to this effort.”
The 2017 program year CDBG projects consist of nine water and sewer infrastructure projects that will serve more than 8,400 citizens of whom approximately 5,300 are be low- and moderate- income individuals, representing a 63 percent benefit. The $10.6 million dedicated to these projects, leveraged with more than $11 million in other federal, state, and local funds that will result in new public water and sewer infrastructure for approximately 4,100 households.
More than $1.5 million is being dedicated to 12 broadband projects, including nine planning projects and three infrastructure projects. More than 300,000 homes in 27 counties will be represented in these projects.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides Community Development Block Grant funds to the state. The Community Development Division of the West Virginia Development Office manages these funds.
Among the awards were the 2017 Program Year CDBG Water-Sewer Development Recipients.
Town of Davis received $800,000.
This award will complete the total CDBG commitment of $1,000,000 toward completing the project. The project enables the Town to complete a comprehensive upgrade of its municipal water system. It replaces various aged and deteriorated water lines within the existing distribution system, restores a water impoundment at Weimer Run, and provides improvements to the municipal water treatment plant originally built in 1968. The upgrades will improve service for 432 existing households of which 56% are of Low to Moderate income.