DAVIS – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. joined community leaders for a roundtable discussion and tour on a possible agreement to transfer the Canaan Valley Institute facility to the National Youth Science Foundation.
U. S. Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. speaks with Tucker County residents Diane Beall and Mitchell Beall about the possible transfer of the Canaan Valley Institute facility to the National Youth Science Foundation Saturday.
The NYSF has expressed interest in using the facility to build a National Center for Youth Science Education. The group also plans to expand and improve its programs to become a focal point encouraging youth in W.Va. and across the country to consider education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Manchin said he is a supporter of U.S. Fish and Wildlife and all they do.
“We got together and I told them they need to be in the valley,” Manchin said. “We have made a commitment to them that we will do everything we can to help them repair their building down there. They need some support for them.”
Manchin said he spoke with representatives from NOAA and they do not want to go through this process again with the CVI building.
“They don’t want to turn the building over to an entity and then run into financial problems,” Manchin said.
Manchin said NYSF needs to have a business plan, a game plan and financial support to sustain them.
“We have to find out how we get that from so many different avenues,” Manchin said. “Far too long people have depended on the federal government, the state government and the local government, somebody to do something for them. I want to be your partner. We have to find a way in the private sector for partnership. We have to find out how much support we have from our corporate friends.”
Manchin encouraged Judge Ron Pearson with the National Youth Science Foundation to form committees using local folks to help gather information to present to NOAA about finances and support.
Edward Horton of NOAA sent Pearson a letter asking for a written proposal containing information no later than Feb. 13. Horton asked the proposal contain NYSF financial statements, information on funding NYSF would dedicate to operating and maintaining the CVI property and information on how NYSF would use the CVI property. The letter stated NOAA would be looking to ensure that NYSF’s use of the CVI property would be consistent with NOAA’s mission, and that NYSF would have sufficient funds to operate and maintain the CVI property over the long-term. The letter also asked that NYSF proposal include a timeline demonstrating that the CVI property transfer be completed on or before June 1.
In November, the two groups, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and NYSF stepped forward announcing their desire to obtain the CVI property. In December, the Tucker County Commission hosted an open meeting in Davis. Comments from local residents at that meeting, and written comments sent to all interested parties, showed unwavering support for the NYSF to take over the CVI facility and offer science, technology, engineering and math education for students in W.Va., the United States and foreign countries.
In January, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it decided not to acquire the Canaan Valley Institute building and associated land in Davis.
