The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) hosted a press conference by West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey on Feb. 9. Morrisey announced a public water line extension project in western Greenbrier County, parts of which currently rely on private water sources such as wells.
Morrisey said a $2 million grant through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program will be used to extend water service from Sam Black Church to Smoot Elementary School. The AMLER program assists projects located on or adjacent to mine sites that have ceased operations, with the goal of reclaiming these sites as platforms for growth.
“I’m excited about what this project means for Smoot Elementary School and the reliability, safety and peace of mind of our kids. Schools depend on consistent water for sanitation, food service, student health and emergency preparedness,” Morrisey said. “Connecting these water lines also helps residential and commercial customers and sends a bright message about our future.”
Morrisey said the extension is one of a series of infrastructure projects he plans to announce this week, and that it will help promote economic development in southern West Virginia.
“Access to public water is one of the key criteria for whether homes can be built, businesses can expand and employers can consider a location,” he said. “It is critically important, so we’ve been looking at ways to take some of the dollars available through different programs and convert as much into water and sewer money as possible. The thesis behind this is that if you have enough investments in the fundamentals, then more people and businesses are going to be coming to your state.”
James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., WVSOM’s president, thanked Morrisey for his visit to the osteopathic medical school.
“I’m pleased to have the opportunity to welcome Governor Morrisey to our campus. We are all working toward the same goal of improving the well-being of West Virginians, and initiatives like this water line extension play an important role in advancing the state,” Nemitz said.
Justin McAllister, WVSOM’s vice president of finance and facilities and chief financial officer, said Morrisey’s announcement marks a step forward for the region, and ultimately promotes the same goals the school supports.
“Reliable, modern infrastructure is essential for supporting rural communities, and this investment will strengthen the foundation on which residents, businesses and institutions depend. For WVSOM, enhanced water capacity directly supports our mission to train the next generation of physicians by ensuring a safe, resilient and fully supported campus environment. Projects like this help us continue serving our students – and, through them, the rural communities they will one day care for,” McAllister said.
Public leaders in attendance included Woody Hanna, Richie Holliday and Lowell Rose of the Greenbrier County Commission; Misty Hill, Lewisburg city manager; Valerie Pritt, Lewisburg City Council member; Ruthana Beezley, executive director of the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corp.; Samantha Smith of the West Virginia Division of Economic Development; John Tuggle and Jamie Baker of the Region 4 Planning and Development Council; Jeff Bryant, superintendent of Greenbrier County Schools; Molly Judy, principal of Smoot Elementary School; and WVSOM officials.
