It’s nearly May, which means we’re on the brink of several exciting deadlines and developments! Just last month, we shared some exciting announcements with you, and today, we’re sharing some updates.
As you know, the passage of the FY22 spending bill was of personal interest for our team. Thanks to Senator Shelley Moore Capito, the Wyoming County Economic Development Authority was earmarked to receive federal funding for two projects at the Barkers Creek Industrial Park that will support critical power and infrastructure upgrades. Within the next quarter, we expect to hear from Senator Capito’s team soon for project guidance and will then kick off the bidding process for the bridge and power expansions.
Mid-March, we also announced our selection of The Thrasher Group, an engineering firm, to carry out the Barkers Creek Industrial Park project, from ideation to construction. Since then, The Thrasher Group has completed their preliminary engineering report, which will assist us in planning out the next phase of the Barkers Creek Industrial Park project. We’ll keep you updated in the months to come as project progress unfolds.
The second annual Wyoming County Literature Fund’s Writing Contest deadline has been extended through May 15. Cash prizes will be awarded to seven students enrolled in grades 1-12 and to two adults aged 18 and up who submit impactful written works about Wyoming County’s history and culture.
The Writing Contest’s awards are generously funded by Wyoming County’s own poet extraordinaire, Lonnie Bailey, who founded the Literature Fund for Wyoming County at the Beckley Area Foundation. Through this fund, Bailey’s goal is “to help keep alive and inspire new cultural and historical endeavors through the craft of writing.” All entrants must be residents of Wyoming County.
Learn more about the Literature Fund and read last year’s winning entries here.
Earlier this month, the Wyoming County EDA applied for $3.9 million in grant funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Economic Adjustment Assistance program to support the construction of a new facility at the Barkers Creek Industrial Park project. Altogether, the project, which includes infrastructure updates to support incoming economically sustainable companies, will cost an estimated $4.875M.
The state, county, and Wyoming County EDA have also collectively matched $975,000 for the Barkers Creek Industrial Park project funding.
Learn more about the Barkers Creek Industrial Park here.
Last month, the Wyoming County EDA recently revamped our quarterly newsletter, and we’d love to have your support! At the end of each quarter, we’ll be sharing updates about current and upcoming projects, ongoing grant and funding applications, important deadlines, and more. If you missed it, you can still catch last month’s newsletter here.