CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today applauded the announcement made by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross that the department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.2 million grant to the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority, Charleston, West Virginia, to make infrastructure improvements needed to support the growth of aerospace businesses at the Yeager Aviation Business Park. The EDA grant, to be located near a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Opportunity Zone, will be matched with $304,966 in local funds and is expected to create 118 jobs.

Senator Capito was an early supporter of the Opportunity Zones program, which  was included as a provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to help spur growth in economically distressed areas. Senator Capito not only was a co-sponsor of this provision, but she was the only West Virginia senator to vote for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

“Having access to a variety of transportation options—including air travel—is critical to economic development and the day-to-day lives of West Virginians,” said Senator Capito. “That’s why it’s important we continue to make necessary improvements so we can increase efficiency and enhance infrastructure at airports throughout our communities. This EDA funding is welcome news for our state and will hopefully result in attracting even more development in the nearby Opportunity Zone,”

“President Trump is working diligently every day to help improve our country’s infrastructure so we can facilitate more job creation and success,” said Secretary Ross. “The improvements to be made at the Yeager Aviation Business Park will grow West Virginia’s critical aerospace sector and the project’s location near an Opportunity Zone will attract additional investment to the region.” 

BACKGROUND:

This project is funded under the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) program, through which EDA awards funds on a competitive basis to assist communities severely impacted by the declining use of coal through activities and programs that support economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development, and re-employment opportunities. 

 

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