Governor Morrisey Announces Water, Sewer Funding for McDowell County

Governor Patrick Morrisey announced $9.5 million in Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grant funding for five water and sewer projects in McDowell and Mingo counties, and unveiled SENTRY, a new statewide flood warning pilot tied to the one-year anniversary of the McDowell County flood. The state announcement was paired with a separate U.S. Economic Development Administration grant of $3.4 million to McDowell County for additional waterline work, matched with $851,000 in local funds.

Three of the five AMLER projects are located in McDowell County and total more than $6.25 million, including wastewater and sewer work and a water line extension in the Elkhorn district. The remaining $3.25 million will fund two projects in Mingo County, including a $1.26 million replacement of the Town of Kermit’s failing water storage tank with a new 125,000-gallon facility. The AMLER awards are targeted at projects near mine sites that closed prior to 1977 and were selected in coordination with state agencies to meet program requirements.

The EDA investment will install new waterlines in Lex, Baker Ridge, Panther Creek Road, and Rock Ridge in McDowell County. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the EDA grant in a Sept. 24, 2024 press release. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, identified in the EDA material as Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said, “As Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I’m thrilled to secure needed resources to install new waterlines in communities across McDowell County. This increased access to reliable water infrastructure will help retain businesses in the area, as well as attract new economic development opportunities to the county. I look forward to seeing the progress that will result from this investment.”

Governor Morrisey framed the investments as foundational to economic recovery. “Water and sewer systems may not be flashy, but they are essential,” Morrisey said. “If you cannot deliver clean drinking water or safely manage wastewater, you cannot attract jobs, build homes, or grow your economy. West Virginia is ready to grow, and that starts with strong fundamentals.” He tied the rollout to flood recovery and preparedness: “On Sunday, we remember the lives lost one year ago in the devastating flood that struck McDowell County and forever changed that community. Our hearts remain with the families who continue to grieve and rebuild. As we honor those we lost, we are also focused on protecting our communities in the future. That is why we are working to implement SENTRY, a new flood warning initiative designed to provide earlier alerts and give families critical time to get to safety. We owe it to those we lost to do everything in our power to ensure we are better prepared and better protected moving forward.”

The investments build on AMLER, a 1977 law designed to help areas recover from older abandoned coal mines. McDowell and Mingo counties have long histories of coal production and have faced population loss and economic decline after mine closures. Delegate Tristan Leavitt praised the initiative as a hopeful step for long-struggling communities.

For McDowell County residents the announcements mean new construction in specific neighborhoods, potential short-term job activity tied to contractors, and long-term infrastructure intended to make the county more attractive to employers. Officials have not published full project timelines or contractor lists in the initial releases. The next steps will include local permitting, contract awards, and deployment of the SENTRY pilot, and residents will be watching for schedules and local matching fund details as work moves from announcement to construction.