Governor Earl Ray Tomblin today presented more than $12.3 million in Small Cities Block Grant funds for 14 critical infrastructure projects for communities across West Virginia. In total, more than $27 million in other federal, state and local funding will support public infrastructure projects for more than 7,300 West Virginia households and improve reliability statewide.
“Investing in our state’s infrastructure is critical to our continued economic growth and the continued wellbeing of those who call our state home,” Tomblin said. “Economic development follows water and sewer projects like those supported by the Small Cities Block Grant program, and these grants provide a foundation for future developments in our communities and ensure the Mountain State is an even greater place to call home.”
Small Cities Block Grant funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Community Development Division of the West Virginia Development Office manages the administration of these funds.
TOWN OF BURNSVILLE (Braxton County)
$1,325,000
This $4.1 million project will extend water service to 68 households along Route 5 and Orlando Road in Braxton County, which currently rely on private wells that provide poor quality water.
CLAY COUNTY COMMISSION
$1,325,000
This $2.96 million project will provide safe and reliable water service to 136 households along Pack Fork Road and Independence Road off Route 16 in Clay County, where residents rely on poor quality wells.
TOWN OF HARMAN (Randolph County)
$180,774
This $4 million project will be used to improve the Town of Harman’s water treatment plant and extend water service in Harman along Route 32 to include Pennington Road and Bonner Mountain Road, serving approximately 200 households – many of whom have individual wells with poor quality and quantity.
LEWIS COUNTY COMMISSION
$250,000
This $3.6 million project will enable the Lewis County Commission to extend water service to 96 households in the Churchville and Sugar Camp area, including Laurel Run, Mare Run, Limestone Run and Murphy Creek areas in the Northwest Lewis Water Extension. This area is currently served by individual wells, many of which have low quantity and quality.
LOGAN COUNTY COMMISSION
$200,000
This $4.95 million project will enable the Logan County Public Service District to extend water service to approximately 195 households in the communities of Big Harts Creek, Smokehouse Road, White Oak Branch and surrounding areas of Logan County. This area currently does not have a reliable source of water, and private wells prove unreliable in terms of both quality and quantity.
TOWN OF MARLINTON, (Pocahontas County)
$500,000
This $4.35 million project will enable the Town of Marlinton to upgrade its existing water treatment plant and water storage system. The project will also enable the town to replace three water storage tanks; update booster stations, install telemetry to the plant, tanks and boosters; and complete related upgrades throughout the system to ensure its long-term viability.
MERCER COUNTY COMMISSION
$250,000
This $5.1 million project will enable the Oakvale Road Public Service District to extend water service to approximately 150 residents in the Elgood area, including the communities of Elgood, Twin Oaks and Christians Ridge in eastern Mercer County. The project will include the installation of new water lines, booster stations, water storage tank and related improvements needed to provide safe drinking water to area residents.
PENDLETON COUNTY COMMISSION
$1,500,000
This $2.85 million project will enable the Pendleton County Public Service District to extend water service to 134 households in the Seneca area, to be served by the Riverton water system. Residents of this area currently rely on wells and cisterns that run dry in summer months and produce poor quality water.
CITY OF PIEDMONT (Mineral County)
$700,000
This $700,000 project will enable the City of Piedmont to upgrade its water treatment plant. The project will address a deteriorated booster pump building and improve plant performance. These improvements are expected to extend the life of the antiquated facility for decades.
TOWN OF PINE GROVE (Wetzel County)
$1,500,000
This $1.5 million project will enable the Town of Pine Grove to improve its sewage collection system with the installation of a gravity system, pumps and force mains. The project will replace the existing vacuum system, which is plagued by failure causing backup into residential basements.
TOWN OF ROWLESBURG (Preston County)
$1,500,000
This $4.5 million project will enable the Town of Rowlesburg to extend water service to approximately 100 households in the Etam and Macomber areas of Preston County. The project will include the installation of water lines, fire hydrants, meters, a water booster station, and one 100,000-gallon water storage tank, and other improvements needed to provide safe and reliable drinking water to area residents.
TUCKER COUNTY COMMISSION
$250,000
This $5.7 million project will upgrade the existing Hamrick Public Service District water treatment plant, improve the existing distribution system and provide water service along Location Road. The project will include the refurbishment and replacement of existing water lines, tanks, valves, hydrants and telemetry to ensure the longevity of the existing water treatment plant.
WETZEL COUNTY COMMISSION
$1,325,000
This $1.5 million project will enable the Hundred Littleton Public Service District to provide water service to 81 households along Route 250 and Route 7 in the areas of Rush Run, Cottonwood, Burton and Pogue Run areas of Wetzel County. Many residents in the area rely on private wells and cisterns that provide poor water quality and low quantity throughout the year.
WYOMING COUNTY COMMISSION
$1,500,000
This $2.27 million project will enable the Eastern Wyoming Public Service District to upgrade and replace a failing water system serving approximately 170 residents and customers in the Bud and Alpoca areas of Wyoming County. The project will include the installation of new water lines and hydrants to serve an area which has been plagued by a deteriorating system.
