CHARLESTON — A total of $150,000 is coming to Upshur County, with $75,000 on the way to Tucker County, as part of the state’s Ready Sites Program grants.

The Upshur County Development Authority will receive two $75,000 grants, one for a project at a Brushy Fork site, and another for a project at the Martin Weatherford site.

The Barbour County Economic Development Authority will also receive a $75,000 grant, acccording to Governor Patrick Morrisey’s office.

The governor has awarded $2.1 million in grants to develop business-ready sites across 23 counties in West Virginia. The grants are designed to aid funding for engineering or architectural needs, including environmental and geotechnical studies, so that businesses looking to build in West Virginia have locations that are ready to accept large-scale projects.

“Speed to build is critically important when companies are deciding on a location to do business, build facilities, and create jobs,” Morrisey said. “This funding is going to ensure West Virginia is competitive and well-positioned to attract new industry and investment for years to come.”

Morrisey noted that these awards are part of a broader effort to strengthen West Virginia’s inventory of business-ready sites. As competition for major projects continues to increase, the Administration remains focused on reducing development timelines and ensuring communities across the state are prepared to compete for new investment.

The grants awarded by Morrisey are part of the Ready Sites Program and administered by the Division of Economic Development.

Other agencies or groups receiving $75,000 grants from the program include the Charleston Area Alliance; the Putnam County Development Authority; the Mason County Development Authority; the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation (Maxwelton site); the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation (Fountain Springs site); the McDowell County Economic Development Authority; the Preston County Economic Development Authority (Grace Chapel site); the Preston County Economic Development Authority (Valley IP site); the Preston County Economic Development Authority (TAZ Sawmill site); the Preston County Economic Development Authority (North Pointe IP site); the Preston County Economic Development Authority (Pres-Mon site); and the Morgan County Economic Development Authority;

The Jefferson County Development Authority (Jefferson Orchard site); the Jefferson County Development Authority (Lot 36 Burr BP site); the Marion County Regional Development Corporation; the Berkeley County Development Authority; the Bluefield Economic Development Authority; the Mineral County Economic Development Authority; the Pleasants County Development Authority; the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority; the Wood County Development Authority & Parkersburg-Wood County Area Development Corp. (00 29th Street site); the Wood County Development Authority and Parkersburg-Wood County Area Development Corp. (Fort Boreman site); the Wood County Development Authority & Parkersburg-Wood County Area Development Corp. (Stone Ridge site); the Harrison County Development Authority (Harrison Regional site); and the Harrison County Development Authority (Spelter site).