CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Governor Patrick Morrisey has announced a $3 million grant from the Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund to West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, known as WV VOAD, to support statewide disaster recovery efforts and help address unmet needs for families impacted by infrastructure failures and natural disasters.
The grant will be distributed in three $1 million tranches and will bolster WV VOAD’s network of voluntary and faith‑based organizations that provide skilled workers, volunteers, and resources to communities recovering from floods, storms, and other emergencies.
Morrisey said the grant is a direct response to concerns raised during his two‑day Water Listening Tour across southern West Virginia last week, where he visited 11 communities to hear from local officials, water system operators, and residents facing long‑standing infrastructure challenges.
“Last week, we traveled across southern West Virginia to hear directly from the people who live with these challenges every day,” Morrisey said. “We saw families dealing with serious infrastructure problems and people who have been looking for answers for far too long. We came back knowing there are places where we can make a difference, and this grant is a first step in that direction.”
During the tour, Morrisey saw firsthand how failing infrastructure — including washed‑out bridges — has disrupted daily life and limited access for families who rely on those routes.
“If you fix one of these bridges, you can change people’s lives,” Morrisey said. “Government can’t solve every problem on its own, but we can work with good partners who know these communities and know how to get things done.”
The administration says the grant is part of a broader effort to address issues identified during the Water Listening Tour. Officials will continue reviewing recommendations and working with local leaders to develop solutions for long‑standing infrastructure problems across southern West Virginia.
More information is available through the West Virginia Department of Commerce.
