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Capito Secures Grant Funding for Various West Virginia Efforts – West Virginia Daily News

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Capito Secures Grant Funding for Various West Virginia Efforts – West Virginia Daily News


CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced grants from various federal agencies and other organizations to deliver funds for projects she championed, including healthcare, education, research, environmental cleanup, infrastructure, economic development, and drug use prevention projects.

More information on each project can be found below:

HHS FUNDING: Senator Capito, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), announced grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for a variety of health service projects in West Virginia.

  • $7,104,407 in HHS Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) funding to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WV DHHR) (Charleston, W.Va.).
  • $2,500,000 in HHS funding to First Choice Services, Inc. (Charleston, W.Va.) to provide high quality insurance navigation services in West Virginia.
  • $2,398,129 in HHS Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Science grant funding to the WV DHHR (Charleston, W.Va.).
  • $1,600,215 in HHS Preventive Health and Health Service Block grant funding to the WV DHHR (Charleston, W.Va.).
  • $1,575,743 in HHS Maternal and Child Health Services grant funding to the WV DHHR (Charleston, W.Va.).
  • $270,458 in HHS Rural Health Care Services Outreach program grant funding to West Virginia University (WVU) (Morgantown, W.Va.).
  • $228,000 in HHS research grant funding to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) to develop machine learning frameworks for public health intervention in rural America.
  • $199,122 in HHS Substance Abuse Prevention grant funding to Hampshire County (Romney, W.Va.).
  • $169,703 in HHS Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant funding to the WV DHHR (Charleston, W.Va.) for Pediatric Mental Care access.

DOL FUNDING: Senator Capito, through her role as Ranking Member of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, secured grants from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for workplace safety and injury prevention.

  • $160,000 in DOL funding to Marshall University (Huntington, W.Va.) for education and training to help workers and employers recognize serious workplace hazards and employ injury prevention.
  • $149,933 in DOL funding to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) for education and training to help workers and employers recognize serious workplace hazards and employ injury prevention.

EPA FUNDING: Senator Capito, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, announced funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) for a variety of programs in West Virginia, including funding made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Ranking Member Capito helped negotiate and craft portions of the landmark legislation.

  • $35,451,000 in EPA IIJA funding to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP) (Charleston, W.Va.) to support a fund that will distribute low-interest loans for water infrastructure projects.
  • $30,845,000 in EPA IIJA funding to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) to support a fund that will distribute low-interest loans for clean drinking water projects.
  • $12,726,000 in EPA funding to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) for capitalization grant funding for the state Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program.
  • $7,690,000 in EPA IIJA funding to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) for capitalization grant funding for the state Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program.
  • $3,345,000 in EPA funding to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) for a capitalization grant for the CWSRF program with a primary purpose to address emerging contaminants. Emerging contaminants refer to substances and microorganisms, including manufactured or naturally occurring physical, chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials, which are known or anticipated in the environment, that may pose newly identified or re-emerging risks to human health, aquatic life, or the environment.
  • $2,000,000 in EPA IIJA funding to the Raleigh County Recreation Authority (Beckley, W.Va.) for Brownfields cleanup projects.
  • $1,872,000 in EPA funding to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) for clean water projects.
  • $1,500,000 in EPA funding to the Bel-O-Mar Regional Council (Wheeling, W.Va.) to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct cleanup planning and community involvement related activities at West Virginia Brownfields sites. 
  • $500,000 in EPA IIJA funding to the New River Gorge Rural Development Authority (Beckley, W.Va.) to clean up a Brownfield site.
  • $500,000 in FWS funding to the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (Washington, D.C.) to improve forest habitats in the Chesapeake across West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
  • $500,000 in FWS funding to Cacapon and Lost Rivers Land Trust (Capon Bridge, W.Va.) wildlife habitat conservation in the Cacapon and Lost Rivers Watershed.
  • $741,514 in EPA funding to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) to support air pollution control efforts in West Virginia.
  • $439,000 in FWS funding to Trout Unlimited (Arlington, Va.) to protect native brook trout in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle.
  • $419,000 in FWS funding to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (Rockville, Md.) to improve eel passage on the Potomac River in West Virginia and Maryland.
  • $269,500 in FWS funding to the West Virginia Land Trust (Charleston, W.Va.) to protect forests and working lands to restore James Spiny Mussel habitat.
  • $74,100 in FWS funding to Cacapon and Lost Rivers Land Trust (Capon Bridge, W.Va.) to protect biodiversity in West Virginia’s Cacapon Watershed.

DHS FUNDING: Senator Capito, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, announced a variety of grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

  • $300,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Camp Torah, Inc. (High View, W.Va.).
  • $150,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to the West Virginia Tree of Life Congregation (Morgantown, W.Va.).
  • $150,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Emmanuel Baptist Church DBA: Emmanuel Christian School (Clarksburg, W.Va.).
  • $150,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Enslow Park Presbyterian Church (Huntington, W.Va.).
  • $150,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to First Baptist Church of Saint Albans (St. Albans, W.Va.).
  • $150,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley (Vienna, W.Va.).
  • $150,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to the Herbert J. Thomas Hospital Memorial Association (South Charleston, W.Va.).
  • $150,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Iskcon New Vrindaban, Inc. (Moundsville, W.Va.).
  • $149,250 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Wheeling Country Day School (Wheeling, W.Va.).
  • $148,705 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to St. Michael Church and School (Wheeling, W.Va.).
  • $143,050 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Shuck Memorial Baptist Church (Lewisburg, W.Va.).
  • $142,300 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Charleston (Charleston, W.Va.).
  • $141,050 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to St. Joseph the Worker Parish School (Weirton, W.Va.).
  • $116,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Randolph Street Baptist Church (Charleston, W.Va.).
  • $101,074 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Union Mission Ministries, Inc. (Charleston, W.Va.).
  • $58,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Hope for Appalachia, LLC (Charleston, W.Va.).
  • $55,100 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to CenterPoint Bible Church (Falling Waters, W.Va.).
  • $35,803 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Union Mission Ministries, Inc. (Charleston, W.Va.).
  • $24,249 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (Wheeling, W.Va.).
  • $19,491 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Union Mission Ministries, Inc. (Charleston, W.Va.).
  • $15,380 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to the African American Community Association of Jefferson County, W.Va.

NSF FUNDING: Senator Capito also secured grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for academic research projects at WVU, Concord University, and Marshall University.

  • $632,019 NSF award to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) for a project titled “CAREER: Advancing Fairness in Biometric Systems: Towards Security and Privacy Enhancement.”
  • $594,458 NSF award to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) for a project titled “NANOGrav Student Teams of Astrophysics Researchers Undergraduate Pathways (STARS-UP): Infrastructure for the Two to Four-Year College Transition.”
  • $400,000 NSF award to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) for a project titled “Course-Based Undergraduate Research: The Magnetic Analysis and Measurement Project.”

DOE FUNDING: Senator Capito announced grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a hydrogen project affecting West Virginia.

  • $909,269 in DOE funding for IN-2-Market Inc. (Follansbee, W.Va.) for a hydrogen project that will affect the community in and around Follansbee, W.Va.

DOT FUNDING: Senator Capito, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, also secured funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for a variety of projects.

  • $6,302,717 in DOT Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding to the City of Morgantown, W.Va. for a runway extension project at Morgantown Municipal Airport.
  • $6,529,858 in DOT funding to the U.S. Forest Service for road and bridge repair in northern West Virginia stemming from May 2023 storms.
  • $5,561,238 in DOT funding to the U.S. Forest Service for road and culvert repair in the South Fork of the Cranberry River Basin stemming from August 2022 storms.
  • $2,165,080 in DOT funding to the U.S. Forest Service for road and trail cleanup and repair in the Monongahela National Forest stemming from June 2019 storms.
  • $1,590,763 in DOT funding to the U.S. Forest Service for road and trail repair in the Monongahela National Forest stemming from May 2023 storms.
  • $250,032 in DOT funding to the U.S. Forest Service for road and trail repair in the Monongahela National Forest stemming from October 2017 storms.
  • $200,620 in DOT funding to the City of Fairmont, W.Va. for a project that will aim to reduce traffic congestion in the city.

EDA FUNDING: Senator Capito also secured funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for several West Virginia projects.

  • $2,800,000 in EDA funding to the Greenbrier Airport Authority (Lewisburg, W.Va.) to construct a new hangar and increase airport service.
  • $1,033,698 in EDA funding to the Marshall University (South Charleston, W.Va.) to support expansion and redevelopment of the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center in South Charleston.
  • $799,926 in EDA funding to Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College (Moorefield, W.Va.) to support development of a new Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program at Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College.
  • $717,116 in EDA funding to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) to support expansion of the Vantage Ventures Accelerator program, providing technical assistance to small, technology-based businesses.

DOJ FUNDING: Senator Capito also announced three grants from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for victim of crime support programs.

  • $4,433,069 in DOJ funding to GO33 Justice and Community Services (Charleston, W.Va.) to assist and support victims of crime.
  • $1,308,132 in DOJ funding to GO33 Justice and Community Services (Charleston, W.Va.) for STOP (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula grant funding.
  • $515,000 in DOJ funding to the Legislative Office of the State of West Virginia (Charleston, W.Va.) to assist and support victims of crime.

NPS FUNDING: Senator Capito also delivered grant funding from the U.S. National Parks Service (NPS) for two Land and Water Conservation (LWCF) projects.

  • $250,000 in NPS LWCF funding to the City of Morgantown, W.Va. for Morgantown’s Bike Skills Pump Track.
  • $113,515 in NPS LWCF funding to the Pleasants County Commission (St. Marys, W.Va.) to improve to renovate the Pleasants County Aquatic Center.

 



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Former WVU QB Will Grier is Headed Back to Where His NFL Career Started

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Former WVU QB Will Grier is Headed Back to Where His NFL Career Started


One of the best quarterbacks in recent memory to come through West Virginia, Will Grier, is approaching his eighth year in the NFL, which is quite the accomplishment for a backup. According to multiple reports early Tuesday morning, Grier is headed home, signing a free agent deal with the Carolina Panthers.

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Grier was selected in the third round (100th overall) by the Panthers in 2019 and, at the time, was viewed as someone who could potentially be the future face of the franchise. That plan got messed up pretty early as Ron Rivera was fired during his rookie season, ultimately replaced by Matt Rhule. That offseason, the Panthers decided to cut ties with Cam Newton and bring in Teddy Bridgewater, giving Carolina a completely different direction at quarterback.

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Following his second season with the Panthers, Grier was let go and began bouncing around the league. He spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, and then back to the Cowboys in 2024 and 2025.

Although he has only played in two regular season games in his career, Grier is widely viewed as a tremendous veteran quarterback who can bring depth to a room and serve as an extra voice for the starter to lean on. In this case, he and former Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett will fill that role for Bryce Young.

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Where Grier ranks among WVU QBs in the NFL

Nov 23, 2018; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Will Grier (7) celebrates during the second quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images | Ben Queen-Imagn Images

Statistically, he’s not going to catch anyone unless he somehow gets thrown into a starting role at some point, but as far as longevity goes, he’s been able to stick around in the NFL longer than most former Mountaineer quarterbacks.

Geno Smith (still active) is entering his 14th year in the league, and Jeff Hostetler made it 13 years. Those are the only two WVU quarterbacks who played longer. Marc Bulger played eight years, so as long as he makes it through this season and plays in 2027, he’ll surpass him. The others? Charles Seabright (six years), Oliver Luck (four years), Pat White (one year), and Fred Wyant (one year).

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Grier will forever be remembered as one of the best to ever suit up for the Old Gold and Blue, tossing for 7,354 yards and 71 touchdowns in just two seasons in Dana Holgorsen’s offense. Following the 2018 season, he finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, marking the highest finish for a Mountaineer since Steve Slaton in 2006.

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AIA West Virginia honors design excellence at 2026 gala in Morgantown

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AIA West Virginia honors design excellence at 2026 gala in Morgantown


MORGANTOWN, WV — The American Institute of Architects West Virginia (AIA WV) recognized design excellence, honored distinguished service and celebrated emerging talent at its 2026 Design Awards Gala and Scholarship Benefit, held at Hotel Morgan in Morgantown.

The annual program highlights architectural work that demonstrates design quality and meaningful impact on communities across West Virginia and beyond. This year’s awards were determined through a blind jury process led by Christopher Meyers, FAIA, of Meyers+Associates in Columbus, Ohio. Projects were evaluated on clarity of concept, execution and long-term impact.

The program’s highest recognition, the Honor Award for New Construction, was presented to the Library and Active Living Center at Afton Ridge in Kannapolis, North Carolina, designed by Silling with design architect HBM Architects, and the Marshall County Health Department in Moundsville, West Virginia, designed by Silling.

Merit Awards for New Construction were awarded to the WVU Medicine Thomas Hospital Orthopedic Hospital Entry Addition in Charleston, West Virginia (Silling); Coalfield Elementary School in Welch, West Virginia (The Thrasher Group); and Northwood Health Systems in Wheeling, West Virginia (M&G Architects & Engineers with MSA Design).

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Citations for New Construction were presented to Alderson Elementary School (The Thrasher Group) and the Oglebay Park Resort Wilson Lodge Porte Cochere (Mills Group).

A Merit Award in Renovation/Restoration was awarded to the Cabarrus County Courthouse – Phase 2 in Concord, North Carolina, designed by Silling with HBM Architects.

In the Interiors category, a Merit Award was presented to Building 2000 Renovation in Friendly, West Virginia (Pickering Associates), while Cedar Grove Elementary School (ZMM Architects and Engineers) received a Citation.

A Citation in Small Projects was awarded to the Cabell County Courthouse Clock Tower Restoration in Huntington, West Virginia (Edward Tucker Architects).

The Community Impact Award was presented to the Woody Williams Center for Advanced Learning and Careers in Barboursville, West Virginia, designed by ZMM Architects and Engineers, recognizing its impact on education and workforce development.

The 25 Year Award, honoring enduring architectural significance, was presented to the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston, West Virginia, designed by Silling.

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AIA West Virginia also presented the James L. Montgomery Award, the organization’s highest individual honor, to William E. Yoke Jr., AIA Emeritus, in recognition of a lifetime of distinguished service to the profession and lasting contributions to the built environment.

The evening also recognized the next generation of architects, with the West Virginia Foundation for Architecture (WVFA) awarding scholarships to ten students pursuing degrees in architecture. These awards reflect the Foundation’s continued commitment to supporting emerging talent and strengthening the future of the profession.

The AIA West Virginia Design Awards program underscores the role architects play in shaping communities through thoughtful, enduring design. This year’s recipients reflect a continued commitment to advancing the quality of the built environment while responding to evolving community needs.

Additional information, including detailed project descriptions and photography, is available in the Awards Gallery at www.aiawv.org.



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West Virginia’s Underrated State Park Is A Serene Getaway With Picturesque Trails And A Unique Hemlock Forest – Islands

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West Virginia’s Underrated State Park Is A Serene Getaway With Picturesque Trails And A Unique Hemlock Forest – Islands






It isn’t every day you get to walk beneath trees so old they stood long before the U.S. became a country. However, northeastern West Virginia’s little-known Cathedral State Park hides a hemlock forest with trees over 500 years old and seven beginner-friendly to moderately challenging trails.

Located just off Route 50, about 55 miles from Clarksburg’s walkable downtown, you’d be forgiven for confusing the park with a rest stop. But, if you venture a little ways from the main road, you’ll encounter West Virginia’s largest old-growth forest, the untouched remnants of what was once a massive hemlock forest across the Appalachian Highlands. This mature hemlock stand is a Registered Natural Landmark due to the tree’s cultural and environmental value, including providing a habitat to over 170 plant species.

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At only 133 acres, the tiny plot was donated to the state by the caretaker of the former Brookside Resort in order to preserve the forest for generations to come. It offers places to picnic or stretch your legs while driving through the farmlands and mountains of Preston County. There’s also a kids’ playground with swings next to shaded picnic pavilions, but the trails are the highlight. “With its trees, creeks, and trails, you are in for a peaceful leisure adventure,” shared a visitor on Google. “Aside from the numerous manmade foot bridges, the rest of the park is left to its natural state.”

Discover the trails at Cathedral State Park

Featuring a maximum length of just over a mile, the seven trails at Cathedral State Park are short, allowing visitors to hike all of them in one outing. Although the park lies in the Allegheny Mountains, the maximum elevation change on the trails is only a couple of hundred feet at most. None of the trails are loops, but they crisscross each, which lets visitors explore without backtracking.

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For the chance to walk beneath the park’s tallest trees on a path that visitors consider the best in the park, choose the 0.2-mile Giant Hemlock Trail. You’ll spot hemlocks measuring up to 90 feet tall and so big you won’t be able to circle the trunk even with multiple people. At 1.1 miles, the Cathedral Trail is the longest in the park and has several bridges that cross Rhine Creek. Here you can find rhododendrons, ferns, and other shade-loving plants growing in abundance. It’s rated the most difficult in the park due to the path’s rocky terrain, but it’s not steep. You might hear some traffic noise along the section of the trail that runs parallel to the highway, but visitors say it’s worth it to see the woods and large hemlocks by the water.

Hikers generally consider the trails well-marked (look out for the blazes) and relaxing, but report exposed roots and rocks that could trip you up. Besides hemlocks and their plant communities (including colorful mushrooms), keep an eye out for wildlife, including deer and squirrels.

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Things to know before visiting Cathedral State Park

Cathedral State Park is open year-round, but the bathrooms close during the winter starting in October. The best time to hit the trails is in the spring and summer when the canopies and moss carpets turn lush and green. Even though temperatures can reach up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer, the canopy cover offers a respite from the heat. On the other hand, those visiting in winter get to experience the hemlocks covered in snow and ice.

The trails are well-marked, but visitors say they can be confusing. Consider downloading the Cathedral State Park Trails Map ahead of your visit (it’s one of the most important things park rangers wish you’d do before exploring a park). Some of the trails require hikers to cross the highway, so you need to be mindful of traffic and look out for children. 

In addition to hikers, dogs are allowed on the trails as long as they remain leashed. During the snowy months, cross-country skiers are also permitted on the hiking trails. Unfortunately for campers, the park is a day-use only site. However, Blackwater Falls State Park is only 18 miles away and offers 65 tent and RV sites (electricity hookups provided) near West Virginia’s most photographed waterfall. 

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