Beckley, WV (WOAY) – Four Raleigh County organizations received a combined total of more than $375,000 in state grant funding Friday, with the money distributed at the Raleigh County Commission.
The funding comes through the Local Economic Development Act, known as LEDA, a state program that allows legislators to direct grant money toward community needs.
The Raleigh County Commission on Aging received $40,000, which will go toward a new bus. Fishes and Loaves received $5,500 to help people in need. The Raleigh County Horseman’s Association received $30,000 for a tractor to support events at their new arena. The largest award, $300,000, went to local faith-based addiction recovery programs.
West Virginia District 9 Senator Rollan Roberts helped secure the funding. He described what sets the recovery programs apart from other services.
“They don’t stop with just helping them get off of the drugs. They’re helping them to build a life. And that is very, very important,” Roberts said.
Roberts also spoke to what the investment means to him personally.
“It adds meaning to my purpose to be able to help people who are not able to help themselves because of the addiction that it’s taken over in their lives. Restoring relationships, helping them to have vocations, to be able to build a life … and you can’t put words on that. It warms the heart,” he said.
Raleigh County Commissioner Greg Duckworth noted that many of the people running these programs work without pay.
“These are people who have been out here and doing these jobs for free, they donate their time. They’re not on payrolls and they’re giving back to their community. And when an organization like ours can step in, it’s a big deal,” Duckworth said.
Senator Roberts says additional funding distributions are expected in the coming months.
