Charleston Leader

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito has announced significant funding for various programs in West Virginia. The funding comes from multiple government agencies and will support public health, economic development, environmental cleanup, research, and education in the state.

One of the key funding announcements is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Senator Capito, who is the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, revealed that HHS will provide resources to support health center clusters and Head Start projects in West Virginia. Speaking about this funding, Senator Capito said, "I am proud to secure resources that will help our children in West Virginia have as many opportunities as possible to begin their education at an early age and put them on a path to reaching their full potential."

In addition to HHS funding, Senator Capito, who is also the Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, announced grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for ongoing air quality and environmental cleanup projects in West Virginia. Senator Capito emphasized the importance of these projects, stating, "I work closely with the EPA to identify and support projects that aim to keep West Virginia a beautiful and healthy place to live."

Furthermore, Senator Capito announced a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for programs that can create new products from legacy coal combustion residuals at decommissioning coal plants. This funding is aimed at diversifying West Virginia's economy for the future. Senator Capito expressed her enthusiasm, saying, "These resources from the DOE can create new purposes for existing infrastructure at coal plants and can diversify West Virginia’s economy for the future."

Lastly, Senator Capito, who is a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, announced a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to SOSTOS, LLC. The grant will support research on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in finding new drug options for improved survival outcomes in cancer treatments. Senator Capito highlighted the potential of AI in healthcare, stating, "We are just beginning to see the ways AI can revolutionize the economy and our everyday lives. I am excited to see how this research can discover new ways we can incorporate technologies like AI into healthcare and better serve people battling cancer."

The funding details for each award were also provided. Some of the notable HHS awards include $1,499,261 to WomenCare, Inc., $1,248,529 to Cabin Creek Health Systems, Inc., and $1,055,589 to Wirt County Health Services Association, Inc. These funds will support health center clusters in West Virginia. The EPA grants include $500,000 to the WV DEP for implementing air pollution controls and $100,000 for the DEP’s Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) program. Additionally, the DOE grant of $100,000 will be given to The Center for Applied Research and Technology, Inc. to explore options for developing useful products from coal combustion residuals. Lastly, the NSF grant of $275,000 will support SOSTOS, LLC.'s project on AI-based drug discovery.

With these resources and funding, West Virginia can expect to see advancements in public health, economic development, environmental conservation, and AI research. The investments made by various government agencies demonstrate a commitment to the well-being and progress of the state.