| Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $1.6 million to the Braxton County Commission to improve water infrastructure critical to the Weyerhaeuser Oriented Strand Board manufacturing plant expansion.
"This $1.6 million federal grant is great news for the residents of Braxton County," said Rep. Capito. "It is critical that we continue to do everything possible to upgrade our state's infrastructure, especially in rural West Virginia, to help with economic development and job creation. This grant will help Braxton County provide that infrastructure needed for the Weyerhaeuser plant to expand and create more job opportunities."
The EDA grant will help make improvements to increase the capacity of the Flatwoods-Canoe water treatment and distribution system. Currently, the plant is overworked and near collapse, making its improvements vital to the Weyerhaeuser plant's survival and expansion.
The infrastructure improvements will help secure the existing 185 jobs at the Weyerhaeuser plant and could help spur the creation of hundreds of indirect jobs across the region in the wood harvesting and commercial equipment sectors.
The Economic Development Administration provides grants to economically-distressed communities to generate new employment, help retain existing jobs and stimulate industrial and commercial growth.
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