CHARLESTON, WV — Governor Jim Justice on April 17th, announced the allocation of nearly $1.1 million in non-federal match funds to enhance water and wastewater infrastructure in five West Virginia counties.

Additionally, the West Virginia Department of Transportation was awarded nearly $3.3 million through the PROTECT grant to reconstruct a portion of State Route 39 and raise the roadway outside of the flood zone of the Cherry River.

The counties receiving water and wastewater infrastructure funding include:

Shady Spring Public Service District

Shady Spring Public Service District has secured $2 million from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), with a $500,000 non-federal match from the Governor's Office. This funding will be used for the Glen Morgan Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade, which aims to replace and expand the plant's equipment, enhance its capacity to 1.6 million gallons per day, and prevent future equipment failures.

Town of Alderson

The Town of Alderson received $372,000 from the US EPA, with a $93,000 non-federal match from the Governor's Office. The funding will be used for The Town of Alderson Water System Rehabilitation and Expansion Project, which will cover pre-award expenses and the design phase of a water project. This project aims to upgrade the current water system and extend service to Riverside Rest, enhancing water service reliability and fire protection in Greenbrier, Monroe, and Summers counties.

Berkeley County Public Service District

The Bunker Hill Water Mainline Upgrades project focuses on upgrading the Bunker Hill water mainline to increase water treatment and distribution capacity. The Berkeley County Public Service District has secured $3 million from the US EPA, with a $500,000 non-federal match from the Governor's Office. The Berkeley County PSD also provides an additional $250,000 towards the project.

West Virginia Department of Transportation

The West Virginia Department of Transportation was awarded nearly $3.3 million through the PROTECT grant to reconstruct a portion of State Route 39 (WV 39) and raise the roadway outside of the flood zone of the Cherry River.

This is a critical corridor in the transportation network of the area and serves as the main east-west evacuation route for the City of Richwood. The funds awarded in this project did not need a non-federal match from the Governor’s Office.