Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.9 million grant to the Wyoming County Economic Development Authority, Pineville, West Virginia, to construct three buildings needed to support manufacturing in the Barkers Creek Industrial Park.
This project will support a new industry in carbon products manufacturing, creating jobs while diversifying the local economy. This EDA grant will be matched with $975,000 in state and local funds and is expected to help create 59 jobs and generate $85 million in private investment.
“The Biden Administration is committed to ensuring that our communities are provided with the resources they need to diversify and grow their economies,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This investment will allow for the development and manufacturing of new carbon-based products, spurring business expansion and economic resilience.”
“The Economic Development Administration is dedicated to working with communities to support their locally-driven strategies to recover and rebuild from the pandemic,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This project in Pineville provides critical infrastructure needed to support the region’s manufacturing industry, spur private investment and jobs in West Virginia and diversify the local economy.”
“The EDA continues to be a strong partner for West Virginia through critical investments in our communities that spur economic development and create good-paying, long-term jobs. Expanding the carbon products industry in Wyoming County will strengthen local economic resilience and attract new business opportunities to the entire region, which is why I requested this funding through the Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations process,” said Senator Joe Manchin. “I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of this investment for years to come and I will continue working with the EDA to support economic growth across the Mountain State.”
“When I visited Pineville in April and met with the Wyoming County Economic Development Authority, support for the Barkers Creek Industrial Park was one of the main topics of discussion,” said Senator Shelley Moore Capito. “Wyoming County is one of the most beautiful regions of our state, but they too often face economic hardship. That is why I am focused on working to connect the area with the critical infrastructure needed to spur economic development and build a foundation for manufacturing. This announcement today is another step in the right direction, and will help move Wyoming County towards future development and success.”
This project is funded under the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) initiative, through which EDA awards funds on a competitive basis to assist communities severely impacted by the declining use of coal. ACC projects support economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development, and re-employment opportunities.
This award is a great example of what communities can do under EDA’s new American Rescue Plan programs; particularly the $300 million Coal Communities Commitment. This investment will ensure that coal communities have the resources they need to recover from the pandemic and will help create new jobs and opportunities, including through the development or expansion of a new industry sector. Effective May 26, 2022, EDA has officially closed all of its American Rescue Plan programs for applications. The $3 billion program funding will be awarded on a rolling basis through September 30, 2022.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.