Federal grant awarded for upgrades to Pineville water system

Sep. 27—Progress on two water projects will continue with the award of a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for upgrades to the Pineville water treatment plant, service lines along Rt. 97, as well as evaluating storage tanks and other equipment.

The required upgrades will allow the town's water system to be extended into the Baileysville and Brenton areas, explained Eric Combs, Region I Planning and Development Council project manager/GIS specialist.

The federal EDA grant is the final funding needed to complete the in-town project, Combs noted, though officials are exploring additional funding options to bring down the loan cost.

"This is really positive news for the town of Pineville and all the citizens that will eventually be added to the system," emphasized Jason Mullins, Wyoming County Commission president.

"These are much needed upgrades for any future extension projects," Mullins said.

The county commission "is really concerned with proceeding with these types of projects and adding to the number of people" in the county who will be served by modern water systems, Mullins noted.

Once operational, the water extension will replace antiquated systems now operated by the Brenton and Marianna public service districts and the Green Camp Water Association.

Phase one will take the system from the end of the town's current service lines to Baileysville Elementary and Middle School, adding about 260 new customers.

Before the Brenton/Baileysville extension can move into the construction phase, improvements to Pineville's water treatment plant must be completed, according to officials.

The county committed $25,000 to the in-town upgrade project.

Additional funding sources for the $8.3 million in-town upgrade project include the West Virginia Water Development Authority, the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services' Bureau For Public Health Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Fund, the Wyoming County Commission, and the town of Pineville.

Thompson & Litton, of Princeton, are the engineering consultants for the projects.

In 2022, costs for the Brenton/Baileysville water extension increased by more than $4 million due to supply issues created by the Covid-19 pandemic.

At that time, commissioners approved $250,000 for the project from the county's first round of American Rescue Plan funding.

The American Rescue Plan funding is federal money provided in response to the economic downturn created by the Covid-19 pandemic. County and municipal governments must use the federal monies within a certain time frame to fund infrastructure projects — water, sewer, broadband, roads.

Total cost for the Brenton/Baileysville water extension project is estimated at $9.4 million, Combs said, and officials are still seeking funding sources for $3.9 million.

The majority of the preliminary work for the extension project has been completed, Combs explained.

The environmental studies are completed, the project design is nearly complete, and right-of-way has been obtained with the exception of one storage tank site and one easement.

Project approval by the West Virginia Public Service Commission remains, but the project is getting much closer to bidding, officials note.

"As part of the Biden Administration's commitment to investing in America, we're making sure that communities in West Virginia and across the country have the resources they need to grow and diversify their economies," said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo in a press release concerning the federal grant. "These EDA investments in critical infrastructure will serve as an economic driver for the state and pave the way for decades of private investment and job creation."

"The (U.S.) Economic Development Administration is pleased to provide targeted, place-based grants designed to support regional economic development," added Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. "These EDA grants will support local business expansion efforts, creating jobs and bringing economic resiliency to West Virginia."

"The (U.S.) EDA continues to be a strong partner for West Virginia through critical investments in our communities that spur economic growth and create good-paying, long-term jobs," said U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., in the press release.

"Through our collaboration with the EDA, the Environment and Public Works Committee, where I serve as ranking member, has supported projects that provide tangible benefits for local communities across West Virginia," said U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. "Water and wastewater upgrades, as well as other infrastructure improvements, are critical to our state's success, and I'm thrilled West Union, Pineville, and the Northern Panhandle are receiving these investments today."