West Virginia Receives $5.8 Million In ARC Grants

This week, the Appalachian Regional Commission announced seven project awards totaling $5,844,534 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) program.

The POWER Program is a congressionally funded initiative that targets federal resources to help communities and regions that have been affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries due to the changing economics of America's energy production.

West Virginia District One received 100,000 total in POWER grants: $50,000 for the Appalachia Forest Heritage Area and $50,000 for the Wheeling National Heritage Area.

Click here to read more.

Potomac Valley Hospital Visit

Potomac Valley Hospital provides essential care to some of our most rural communities. Listening to their challenges and successes gives me the tools to be a more effective voice in Washington.

To read more about the visit, click here.

Mountaineer ChalleNGe Opens In Montgomery, WV

The Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy has made a difference in the lives of thousands of young West Virginians. Over the years I've met many of these young men and women and heard the stories of how the Youth ChalleNGe program has helped them turn their life around. Expanding to a second location will reach many more at-risk kids across West Virginia. We will continue to use our role as the co-chair of the Congressional Youth ChalleNGe Caucus to support MCA's mission and ensure their success.

For more information, click here.

ICMYI: Hyperloop Moving to West Virginia

Last week, after a nationwide search, Virgin Hyperloop announced West Virginia will be home to the Hyperloop Certification Center (HCC). The center will perform key safety tests required for certification of this groundbreaking transportation technology.

Virgin Hyperloop received strong interest and support from cities across the nation, West Virginia was one of 17 states to submit a formal proposal. The HCC will be located in Tucker and Grant Counties.

The Hyperloop Certification Center will put West Virginia on the map as a hub of innovation. The project will help further diversify our economy, attract jobs and investment, and shine a spotlight on what makes our state great.

West Virginia is already recognized for research in energy, health care and defense. Now we are branching into transportation. This will help establish West Virginia as a center of innovation and research vital for the 21st Century.

Click here to read more on Virgin Hyperloop.
Click here to watch a video explaining what Virgin Hyperloop is.

Free COVID19 Testing Near You

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources offers free COVID-19 testing in counties located near you.

Harrison County
EVERY Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Jackson Square (back door of the Health Department)
Traders Alley
Clarksburg, WV

Marion County
EVERY Tuesday and Thursday
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Marion County Health Department
300 Second Street
Fairmont, WV

Monongalia County
EVERY Wednesday
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
West Virginia University
Student Recreation Center
2001 Rec Center Drive
Morgantown, WV

Taylor County
EVERY Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
First Baptist Church of Grafton
2034 Webster Pike (US Rt. 119 South)
Grafton, WV
*Will not be held Monday, October 12 due to state holiday
(flu shots offered Tuesdays and Thursdays)

For more information on upcoming testing locations, click here.

West Virginia Strong - The Comeback

Over nineteen thousand COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in West Virginia as of today. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources established a toll-free hotline for questions from the public and medical providers concerning the pandemic. The department also has a website with the most up-to-date information regarding the confirmed and pending cases.

In May, Governor Jim Justice announced his plan for reopening the economy. Reopening will not happen suddenly, but with time. We should be able to open in a safe and cautious manner as long as we continue to follow the social distancing guidelines.

The STAY-AT-HOME order was lifted on Sunday, May 3rd and a SAFER-AT-HOME was put in place on Monday, May 4th.

In July, Governor Jim Justice announced starting on Tuesday, July 7, West Virginia will have an indoor face covering requirement in all public indoor places where social distancing cannot be maintained. Do your part to slow the spread and keep each other safe.

West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
Toll-Free Hotline 24/7
1- 800 - 887- 4304

More information on the indoor face covering requirement, click here.
More Information, click here.
Click here for the COVID19 West Virginia website.

CDC Recommendations

We encourage everyone to follow the CDC recommendations on how to help protect yourself and others.

Take these steps to protect yourself:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, which the chorus to Country Roads lasts about that long.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% of alcohol.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in the community.
Wear a cloth face covering in public settings.

Take these steps to protect others:

Stay home if you are except to receive medical care.
Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues and throw away the tissue.
Clean and disinfect touched surface areas daily.

For more updated information from the CDC click here.

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