Capito secures resources to support health services, public safety, environment, economic development programs, research projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WVDN) — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced funding from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Justice (DOJ), as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support several health services, public safety, economic development, and environmental protection programs, as well as two research projects at West Virginia University (WVU) and Marshall University.

HHS FUNDING: Senator Capito, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), secured funding for the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) to strengthen youth mental health services in West Virginia and resources for WVU to support a research project focused on aging.

“It is vital that the WV DHHR receives the resources they need to address mental health challenges among our youngest West Virginians and assist them in the best ways possible,” Ranking Member Capito said. “Additionally, I was pleased to secure funding for WVU to support their research efforts regarding aging.”

EPA FUNDING: Senator Capito, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), announced funding from the EPA to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP) and the Girl Scouts of the Black Diamond Council to assess and clean up Brownfield sites, help environmental projects across West Virginia, and educate the public on the harmful effects of pollution.

“Making investments to revitalize and reuse abandoned sites, protect our environment, and educate young West Virginians can go a long way in setting our state up for success. I’m thrilled these resources are heading to our state and know they will support the work already being done on the ground by our outstanding local community officials and leaders,” Ranking Member Capito said.

ARC FUNDING: Also through her role as EPW Ranking Member, Senator Capito announced funding for more than a dozen projects through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to help support a variety of projects across West Virginia.

“My work through the Environment and Public Works and Appropriations Committees with the Appalachian Regional Commission continues to support families and workers across our state,” Ranking Member Capito said. “These resources will boost West Virginia’s efforts to help those struggling with addiction, strengthen our workforce, and improve the state’s core infrastructure. I’m looking forward to seeing the local impact the ARC grants announced today will have in each of these communities.”

NSF RESEARCH FUNDING: Senator Capito also announced funding from NSF to Marshall University for a research project through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) partnering with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to create smaller, more efficient computers in NASA equipment.

“I have long advocated on behalf of EPSCoR programs in our state, and it’s welcome news to see Marshall University receive the resources needed to further innovate and modernize computers for use at NASA and in everyday life,” Senator Capito said. “I look forward to seeing what the researchers discover and how this information can help us to in the future.”

DOJ FUNDING: Senator Capito also secured resources to West Virginia from DOJ for crime prevention measures, including forensic analysis research and online child protection measures, and substance abuse treatment.

“I’m proud to support West Virginia’s brave law enforcement officers as they continue to protect children from online threats,” Senator Capito said. “This funding will support forensic biologists so they can quickly and accurately identify suspects and victims of crimes to make sure justice is properly served.”

Individual HHS awards listed below:

• $3,000,000 in HHS funding to WV DHHR (Charleston, W.Va.) to support Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances (SED).

• $150,889 in HHS funding to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) to support a research project focused on aging titled “Personality and Mortality Risk in Adulthood: Behavioral and Physiological Mechanisms.”

Individual EPA awards listed below:

• $1,000,000 to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) to fund the cleanup and assessment of Brownfield sites through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

• $592,181 to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) to implement a cooperative agreement with the Chesapeake Bay Trust to support management of projects in the most effective basins for achieving reduction of nonpoint source loads on nitrogen reduction, tree planting in the town of Romney, W.Va., and revitalization of water access in Keyser, W.Va.

• $40,000 to the Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council (Charleston, W.Va.) to educate Girl Scout members on the impacts of harmful pollution exposure to public health.

Individual ARC awards listed below:

• $4,200,000 to the City of Williamson, W.Va. for a water system upgrade.

• $500,000 to the Morgan County Partnership (Berkeley Springs, W.Va.) to focus on at-risk youth in Morgan County W.Va. and in Washington County Md. who have substance use disorder (SUD) issues and are aging out of Career Technology Center school-based services.

• $500,000 to Seed Sower, Inc. (Meadow Bridge, W.Va.) to better connect adults in recovery with support services and programs.

• $500,000 to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (Lewisburg, W.Va.) to address barriers of transportation, childcare, and mentoring in Greenbrier County’s recovery ecosystem.

• $493,000 to Mon Health Medical Center (Morgantown, W.Va.) for a partnership across West Virginia and Pennsylvania for a program of support services for workers in recovery in the health care industry. 

• $487,500 to New Vision Renewable Energy (Philippi, W.Va.) to focus on young adult males recover from SUD and aging out of the foster care system in some of West Virginia’s most distressed counties. 

• $478,000 to the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute (Charleston, W.Va.) to establish a new community outreach and employment program to build a stronger recovery ecosystem across 15 high-risk counties in West Virginia and Kentucky. 

• $50,000 to Housed Up, Inc. (Fayetteville, W.Va.) to acquire property and prepare for the launch of a program of housing and support services for individuals in recovery in Fayette and Raleigh Counties.

• $50,000 to Keep Your Faith Corporation (Charleston, W.Va.) for a feasibility study to identify the best ways to implement successful recovery-to-work activities.

• $50,000 to the Partnership of African American Churches (Charleston, W.Va.) to better coordinate resources from workforce providers and members of underserved communities in recovery. 

• $50,000 to Camden-on-Gauley Medical Center (Camden, W.Va.) for a planning project in Nicholas County to develop a recovery-to-work ecosystem.

• $48,733 to The EdVenture Group (Morgantown, W.Va.) for a planning grant to develop a plan for a recovery program in Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, and Gilmer Counties.

• $37,871 to Hampshire County Pathways (Romney, W.Va.) to develop a plan for launching social enterprise endeavors that would provide employment opportunities for people with SUD.

NSF award details listed below:

• $293,493 in NSF funding to Marshall University (Huntington, W.Va.) to support a research program partnered with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) titled “RII Track-4: @NASA: Investigation of Two-Phase Aerosol Formation, Transport, and Deposition in Aerosol Jet Printing for Submicron Manufacturing of Printed Electronic Devices.”

Individual DOJ awards listed below:

• $666,615 in DOJ funding to West Virginia State Police (South Charleston, W.Va.) to support the State Police’s DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) and funding forensic scientists within the biology unit to decrease the backlog and turnaround time of forensic biology/DNA cases.

• $625,000 in DOJ funding to West Virginia State Police (South Charleston, W.Va.) to support the expansion of National Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Data System.

• $338,353 in DOJ funding to GO33 Justice and Community Services (Charleston, W.Va.) to support the state’s Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program (RSAT).