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ELKINS -- The Randolph County Commission approved the awarding of $2.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to 10 different organizations Wednesday during a special meeting at the James F. Cain Courthouse Annex.
The Commission was awarded the second half of its ARP funding on July 1, after having a slight carry over from its September 2021 distribution. Commissioners started Wednesday's meeting with $2.9 million to distribute.
All of the funding requests during the meeting were for infrastructure projects, or for revenue replacement of funds which were lost because of COVID-19.
"We wanted to take care of some of the projects that we couldn't do the first go-around of money and we wanted to disburse it all at once," Commissioner David Kesling told those representing the 10 different organizations at the meeting. "We are happy to be able to help all of you out."
The Midland PSD, Norton-Jimtown PSD and the Randolph County Development Authority were awarded the biggest portion of the funding, as the three received a combined $1.5 million.
The Midland PSD received the largest amount, as it was awarded $750,000 that will go toward its water line project in the Bowden area of Randolph County.
Last year the Commission awarded Midland $500,000 for the project, which will provide water to 100 new customers in that area. The total cost for the project is $3.75 million.
The commission approved a funding request from the Norton-Jimtown PSD for the amount of $500,000, which will go toward the construction of a new $10 million water treatment plant, along with improvements to its distribution system.
The Norton-Jimtown PSD currently provides service to more than 700 families in its PSD area. It also serves close to 400 Barbour County residents in the town of Junior, and provides water to the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.
The Randolph County Development Authority was awarded $250,000. The funds will go toward the construction of a new event and conference center in the Elkins Railyard.
"Over the last year the Randolph County Development Authority has been working to build an event and conference center in the Elkins Railyard," RCDA Executive Director Robbie Morris said during Wednesday's meeting. "We've been working to secure a grant for a significant portion of that, which is looking very promising, so much so to the point that we now need to work on filling the gap for the remainder of that project.
"We are in communication with the state on the funding that they are going to put toward the project, but one of the questions they had was what the local buy-in was. So we have a request to you for $250,000, the Randolph County Development Authority will be putting $250,000 of our funds toward the project, and we have a request in to the City of Elkins as well."
Morris said the facility will be a minimum 16,000 square feet and will house a new theatre along with significant conference space, similar to the structures in the larger cities in the state. The total cost for the project is $9.3 million.
"I don't think people really realize what the impact of this project will mean to the community," Kesling said. "It's going to be outstanding once it is complete."
The towns of Beverly and Harman also received significant funding.
Beverly was awarded $150,000 that will go toward the purchase of a 3,600-gallon sewage disposal truck, while Harman received $100,000 that will go toward fixing an issue with its booster station and providing water pressure to around 25 residents.
The five other funding awards went to organizations seeking help with revenue replacement after losing money during the global pandemic.
Centers Against Violence was awarded $25,000, while the Davis Health Systems Foundation, Old Brick Playhouse and Mountain State Forest Festival received $10,000 each. The WVDT Gun Club received $5,000.
Kesling and fellow Commissioner Cris Siler both voted in favor of all the funding awards during the meeting. Commissioner Chris See was unable to attend Wednesday's meeting.
"We wanted to get this money out to these folks so that they could get started with what they are trying to do," Kesling said. "Some of them have been waiting a while to get some help, so we are happy to be able to give them that. We tried to look at projects throughout the whole county, not just in the vicinity of Elkins."