| West Virginia Day |
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Saturday is West Virginian's 157th birthday, almost Heaven and the home we love. Think about the courage and conviction our leaders demonstrated 157 years ago in breaking from Virginia. Our state still has that strength and optimism. Let’s keep moving forward.
Click here to watch the West Virginia Day video.
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| West Virginia Strong - The Comeback Plan |
Last month, 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.
Phase one began on Thursday, April 30th. From there, each phase of the reopening process for Weeks 2-6 will begin on Monday of each subsequent week. Currently, we are in week 8 of the reopening phase. COVID-19 case numbers will continue to be monitored throughout the entire reopening process.
The STAY-AT-HOME order was lifted on Sunday, May 3rd and a SAFER-AT-HOME was put in place on Monday, May 4th.
Week 8 businesses that opened this week:
- No additional openings scheduled for this week.
For more information on Governor Justice's plan, click here.
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| Fathers Day Weekend |
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Happy Father's Day weekend! "A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society." – Rev. Billy Graham.
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| Fighting to Close the Digital Divide in West Virginia |
Today, Reps David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-W.Va) and Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.) announced the introduction of the Nationwide Dig Once Act of 2020, legislation to expand the deployment of broadband internet service to rural and unserved communities across the U.S. The legislation was adopted by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) as part of H.R. 2, the INVEST in America Act.
The Nationwide Dig Once Act of 2020 builds on H.R. 2692, the Broadband Conduit Deployment Act, legislation reintroduced last year by McKinley and Eshoo which mandates the inclusion of broadband conduit – plastic pipes which house fiber-optic communications cable – during the construction of any road receiving federal funding in areas that lack access to broadband internet service.
Across the country many rural communities lack broadband internet service. Having reliable high-speed internet is critical in today’s time, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic where homes are turned into offices and classrooms. Dig Once just makes sense. It will ensure deployment of high-speed internet quicker and more efficiently. As we work to close the digital divide in West Virginia and across the country, this is a positive step in the right direction.
For more information, click here.
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| West Virginia Receives Critical Funding for Corridor H |
On Tuesday, McKinley announced $12,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation for a section of Corridor H in Tucker County. This funding will help support the completion of the Corridor H pavement project from Kerens to Parsons, increasing the reliability of our infrastructure and reducing travel times in West Virginia.
Completion of Corridor H needs to be top priority. In states like West Virginia, this grant funding is especially helpful and important as the difficult mountain terrain creates extra costs of constructing additional infrastructure. These federal funds will further assist with the engineering and design of a critical part of the Corridor H project and will ease the transportation of people and goods across the Appalachia region. I look forward to the economic development both West Virginia and the entire nation will receive once the project is complete.
To read more, click here. |
| Assistance for Small Public Transportation Systems |
The Ohio Valley Regional Transportation Authority (OVRTA) received an award of $4,223,640 through the CARES Act. This grant funding will help support operating, administrative, and preventive maintenance costs, such as wages, cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment, in order to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Across the country public transportation systems are struggling in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. A lot of the time people think about big cities when they think about public transportation, but in smaller communities there are still seniors and others who rely on it. These smaller transit systems still need the same safety precautions as they would in larger systems. These funds will provide OVRTA to continue offering safe, clean, and reliable transportation services to the Wheeling area, ensuring riders an effective mode of travel.
For more information, click here.
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| Small Business Assistance |
To date, over 14,000 West Virginia small businesses have benefited from the Paycheck Protection Program! Applications are OPEN for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). The EIDL loans EIDL Advance program portal is now OPEN to all small businesses owners experiencing economic impact from COVID-19 ! Small business owners can visit the SBA website for more information on what programs may be best for your business.
Who is eligible for PPP? Small businesses with fewer than 500 employees, non-profits, sole proprietors, self-employed, independent contractors, and gig economy workers. The PPP is a forgivable loan, if an employer maintains its payroll, then the portion of the PPP loan used for covered payroll costs, interest on mortgage obligations, rent, and utilities would be forgiven.
REMINDER: You have until June 30th to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program!
My office is collecting stories from small businesses in West Virginia that have received/benefited from the Paycheck Protection Program. If you are interested in sharing your story, click here!
For more information on PPP, click here.
For more information on EIDL, click here.
To share your story of PPP, click here.
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| 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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| West Virginia Resources |
Over two 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.
Click here for more information.
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
Toll-Free Hotline 24/7
1- 800 - 887- 4304
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