Congresswoman Miller Announces $8.7 Million in Economic Development Grants

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Miller (R-WV) announced today ten POWER grants totaling $8,743,469 from the Appalachian Regional Commission to the tri-state area. Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization, or POWER grants, are used to help communities affected by job losses in coal mining as a result of America's changing energy market.

"This a huge step in rebuilding Southern West Virginia after the previous administrations ‘War on Coal,'" said Congresswoman Miller. "Diversifying our economy and supporting entrepreneurs will ensure we find the most innovative ways to continue moving forward to create new jobs, increase small business growth, and keep hard-working West Virginians employed."

Full Details:

1. $1,039,500 to Appalachian Community Capital for Opportunity Appalachia. This award will serve 30 businesses, improve 15 businesses, create 7 businesses, create 720 jobs, and leverage $7.5 million in private investment around West Virginia, Ohio, and Virginia. Opportunity Appalachia helps provide technical assistance to businesses in opportunity zones. In addition to the ARC funds, a partner will provide $125,000 and local sources $440,000, making the project total $1,604,500.
2. $50,000 to the Wayne County Economic Development Authority to create jobs and businesses in recycling, trucking, logistics, and manufacturing across West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. In addition to the ARC funds, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the West Virginia Specialty Crop program, and the Cliff Bar Foundation will donate $22,200, bringing the project total to $72,200.
3. $837,970 to the INNOVA Commercialization Group, the West Virginia Jobs Investments Trust Board (WVJIT), and TechConnect for "Three Steps to Start Up." This project will work with entrepreneurs to launch or expand businesses in West Virginia and create 124 jobs, 15 new businesses, and leverage $1.2 million in private investment. In addition to ARC funds, a foundation partner will provide $346,550 and local sources will provide $110,530, bringing the project total to $1,295,050.
4. $622,280 to the Appalachian Headwaters to expand the Appalachian Beekeeping Collective (ABC) economic development program in Southern West Virginia and part of Virginia. This program will work to break the barriers to getting started in beekeeping and create 150 new jobs, retain approximately 145 existing jobs, create 65 new businesses, improve 50 existing businesses, and provide employment, training, and support to 1,000 new and existing beekeeping entrepreneurs. Local sources will also be providing $625,580, bringing the project total to $1,247,860.
5. $930,001 to Advantage Valley for the FASTER WV project – Fostering Advantages for Startups and Entrepreneurial Resurgence in West Virginia. Advantage Valley is an economic development organization that serves counties on the transportation corridor between Huntington and Charleston. This project will create 150 new jobs, 50 new businesses, and leverage $4.5 million in private investment. In addition to the ARC funds, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation has donated $119,656, Unlimited Future has provided $180,000, and Bridge Valley Community and Technical College has provided $18,000. The project total is $1,247,657.
6. $717,166 to the EdVenture Group, Inc. for the Simulated Workplace Entrepreneurship Education Pathway (SWEEP) project. The funds will be used to provide 1,00o students and 75 instructors entrepreneurship education in West Virginia. The state will allocate $269,200, bringing the project total to $986,366.
7. $1,499,993 to Sprouting Farms for Integrating Agri-Development Centers in Central Appalachia. The project will bring nine organizations into a network of Agri-Development Centers to support the scaling of agriculture production to help wholesale markets and create a pipeline of skilled workers. As a result, 172 businesses will be served, 84 businesses improved, 30 businesses created, 125 jobs created, 36 students served, and leverage $1.4 million in private investment. In addition to ARC funds, federal resources will provide $90,620, state resources will provide $160,000, and local resources will provide $1,522,303, bringing the total to $3,272,916.
8. $1,496,585 to Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio for the LIGHTS Inclusive (LIGHTS-INC) program which is based on the LIGHTS Regional Innovation Network program. This program focuses on bringing those recovering from addiction into entrepreneurship in West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. The project will create 133 new jobs, 49 new businesses, and leverage over $1.6 million in private investment. In addition to ARC funds, local sources will provide $664,856, bringing the project total to $2,161,441.
9. $49,974 to the Partners in Health Network, Inc. (PIHN) to prepare a study looking into expanding the Appalachian Pulmonary Health Project (APHP) to more hospitals and health centers in West Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina that have been affected by the decreasing coal economy. Local sources will provide an additional $38,019 and state sources $4,800, bringing the project total to 92,793.
10. $1,500,000 to the Pikeville Medical Center in Pikeville, Kentucky for the PMC Children Hospital program. The funds will be used to build a $6.2 million children's hospital and pediatric clinic. The hospital will provide family healthcare, create 50 permanent jobs, and retain over 100 pediatric staff. Local sources will add an additional $7,492,216, bringing the project total to $8,992,216.