GILBERT – The town of Gilbert received funding for two major milestone projects in Charleston last week in two separate presentations from West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin.

In a special ceremony at the Governor’s office, Gilbert received one of nine state grants totaling more than $6 million in grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission Investment Program.

“These projects represent a comprehensive approach that will address many of our economic and community development needs,” Gov. Manchin said in presenting the grants. “ We are pleased to have such a strong commitment from ARC and our local partners to ensure that we continue to grow our economy and provide a brighter future for West Virginia.”

The town of Gilbert received a grant in the amount of $1.5 million as a major funding piece for the Horsepen Creek and Gilbert Creek to Baisden Water Extension Project.

Specifically, The project will extend water service and fire protection to 286 new customers in the Horsepen Creek and Gilbert Creek to Baisden areas of Mingo County.  Currently, residents in the project area rely upon wells, springs, and cisterns that provide a poor quality of water.  The project also includes improvements to the Town of Gilbert’s water treatment plant that will upgrade service for the town’s 309 existing customers and expand the capacity of the plant for future growth.

Delegate Harry Keith White (D- Mingo) said this grant was very important to the town.

“This provides a significant portion of the funding for the project and will certainly allow the area to continue to develop its infrastructure.”

“This will certainly go a long way towards making this project get completed, said Mayor Livingood. “It is one of the major sources of funding for this project and we’re just thrilled to get it.”

Later, in a separate ceremony at the State Cultural Center, Gilbert was one of sixty-four communities statewide and the only one in Mingo County to receive an award grant from the Federal Highway Transportation Fund.

Gilbert received it’s first ever Sidewalks Grant in the amount of $192 Thousand to renew it’s city sidewalks and street posts.

“We’ve never received one and I applied hopeful of getting funded and we’re just elated,” Mayor Livingood said. “This will enable us to do some really needed things.”

“With the tourism initiatives in Gilbert, this is very much needed and we’re pleased to get it,” said Gilbert City Councilman Randy Livingood, who was the only Gilbert Town Council member able to attend “I just felt like this was so important to our community that the council should be represented so that’s why I came. WE really needed to show our appreciation to our state officials for their work in helping to get this.”

In attendance to receive the grants were House of Delegates Member K. Steven Kominar (D- Mingo), State Senate Majority Leader H. Truman Chafin (D- Mingo), House of Delegates Member Harry Keith White (D- Mingo), Gilbert Mayor Vivian Livingood, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, Victoria Surber, Town Secretary Vivian Carter, and Gilbert Councilman Randy Livingood.