Morrisey announces $2 million grant to extend water to Smoot
By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV
LEWISBURG, WV – Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced a $2 million state grant to extend water lines from Sam Black Church to Smoot Elementary School, located in the Meadow River Valley of western Greenbrier County. The funds come from the WV Department of Environmental Protection’s Abandoned Mine Economic Revitalization program, which has distributed $239 million in federal grant funds back into coal mining communities since 2016.
The announcement was made at the WV School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, around 20 minutes from the impacted communities, in front of a crowd of approximately 50 people.
According to Ryan Boustany, an engineer for Thrasher who leads the project, it will lead to 40,000 additional feet of water lines at a cost of $8 million.
“It will provide fire protection, water to the school, a couple businesses, like the beverage distribution center and the sawmill. All in all there’s about 85 customers. We’ll look at surrounding roads as well as funds are available.”
Boustany said the county has added around 500 residential customers in the area over the last decade and hopes to continue that effort. But they will need additional funds, even for the initial extension announced on Monday.
“We received an Army Corps of Engineers grant,” he explained. “We need matching funds for that.”
If the county secures the rest of the funding needed, residents will see the impact in 2028 at the earliest. “We will look at having this project permitted next year and out to bid in early 2028. It’s all water lines so it should go smoothly.”
Smoot Elementary’s principal, Molly Judy, was on hand for the announcement. Currently, her school receives water from a well on-site. She’s hopeful this water line extension will be the first step towards getting a new school.
“Looking at the future, this will provide us the foundation for being able to bring a new facility to fruition one day. Our kids deserve to be in a building under one roof. It will help the workforce and our community as well.”
According to Morrisey, this announcement is the first of several scheduled for the week ahead in southern West Virginia and is part of an intentional effort to focus on “fundamentals” in order to spur economic development.
“Since October, we’ve announced $6.5B in investments with a projection of 7,000 jobs in our state. That only scratches the surface.” Morrisey also pointed to broadband and rural health investments which he thinks will be transformative for the state.
“We’re talking about investment levels that WV has never seen before. This is a really good sign. We have to keep going.”
Morrisey explained, “We’ve been looking at every which way to take some of the dollars that are available and convert it as much into water and sewer as possible. If you have enough investment in the fundamentals, more people will move to your state. If you’re operating with a really good site selection plan, a ready-made workforce, and available broadband, that is going to move the needle more than anything. Most companies come because they see the state as being an attractive eco place to locate.”
John Tuggle, Executive Director of the Region 4 Planning and Development Council, credited the project to a team effort. “It starts with the Public Service District. They start out with the vision and the need. Then we go to the county commission, our state and federal partners, for their support. All that goes together to get these projects going. Our accountants and engineers are key parts of this.”
“This project is unique. You’re helping working adults, the kids, and future development,” he told attendees. “This will help Greenbrier County immensely.”
Morrisey thanked the crowd and introduced several attendees including officials from WVSOM, Ruthana Beezley of the GV Economic Development Council, Commission President Lowell Rose, and Jonathan Comer, Pastor of Lewisburg Baptist Church and a candidate for State Senate.
“When we all work together, West Virginia wins,” Morrisey concluded, before telling those in attendance he would be back with additional announcements soon.
