BEECH BOTTOM, W.Va. — Today, Governor Morrisey joined local and state leaders in Brooke County to announce more than $3.3 million in critical water infrastructure funding dedicated directly to the Village of Beech Bottom. The investment will repair essential water storage tanks and complete a long-awaited water main and fire hydrant project along Route 2, stabilizing water service and boosting economic development in the Northern Panhandle.
"Every West Virginia family deserves reliable infrastructure and clean water," said Governor Morrisey. "Infrastructure is where growth starts. When companies look to invest, they need to know basic services like clean water and fire protection are ready on day one. By fixing the fundamentals, we are protecting public health, stabilizing water pressure for families, and giving local businesses the utility capacity they need to grow and hire. Significantly, none of this would have happened without the staunch advocacy of the Mayor and Senator Laura Chapman, who is second to none in terms of advocating for the Northern panhandle infrastructure needs.”
The $3.3 million funding package addresses two major infrastructure needs in Beech Bottom. First, the State is covering 100% of the $283,000 required to repair two side-by-side water storage tanks serving approximately 550 local residents and industrial sites through the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council’s (IJDC) Critical Needs Fund. Repairs to Tank 1’s leaking valve will begin immediately with no service interruptions. Tank 2, which has been out of service due to a floor crack that threatened the foundation of both tanks, will undergo full floor repairs taking four to six weeks once scheduled.
“On behalf of the Village of Beech Bottom, I would like to thank Governor Morrisey and all those who have been involved in securing this funding for the village,” said Mayor Becky Uhlly. “We have been without one of our water tanks for over a year and the threatened loss of our second tank would have been devastating to our community. The completion of our project involving Congressionally Directed Spending will also be able to be completed after many years of waiting. Our community will forever be grateful for your continued support to the Village of Beech Bottom.”
Additionally, the State is contributing $400,000 from the Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund to complete a $3 million package for the Route 2 Water Main and Fire Hydrant Loop project. This state contribution breaks a multi-year deadlock caused by rising construction costs on a 2020 federal award. Combined with funding from the Water Development Authority, IJDC loans, local debt taken on by the Beech Bottom Water Board, and the original federal grant, the complete package allows construction to begin immediately. The project closes a critical loop in the village water system, eliminating pressure drop-offs during heavy industrial use and placing fire hydrants along the entire length of the Beech Bottom Industrial Park.
The announcements in Beech Bottom are part of a broader statewide push following the recent finalization of over $58 million in water and wastewater project packages across West Virginia.