Boucher Brings $42 Million in Federal Funding to Dickenson County for its School Project (June 2, 2010) PDF Print

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Congressman Boucher is joined by Dickenson County Board of Supervisors Chairman Roger Stanley as Rick announces the provision of $42 million in federal funding to launch the Dickenson County school reconstruction project.

Boucher Brings $42 Million in Federal Funding to Dickenson County for Its School Project

 

June 2, 2010

 

Clintwood, Virginia

 

          I am pleased to join you in Clintwood today in announcing a major allocation of federal funding that will truly transform Dickenson County.

          At my urging, the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its Rural Development Agency is providing $42,150,000 to the Dickenson County Industrial Development Authority to address the flood protection needs of Dickenson County’s schools. The financing will be applied in a manner to be determined by the County’s School Board. The funds are being provided in the form of a low-interest, federal loan.

          In January, at my request, President Obama provided $19.5 million in his annual budget for the Dickenson County school flood protection project. I am now working to make sure that these funds are appropriated by the Congress as we process the appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2011. When the appropriation is approved by the Congress, Dickenson County will use the $19.5 million to repay a portion of the $42 million loan I am announcing today. Today’s announcement marks another significant step forward in our efforts to secure the safety of Dickenson County students in the event of a flood.

          In 1977, the County experienced devastating flooding affecting hundreds of homes, businesses and schools and other locations in the County. Many of these structures, including the schools, remain in the floodway leaving students, faculty and staff at high risk of injury during a flood. I have been working closely for many years with Dickenson County officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to identify a flood protection plan which would ensure the safety of Dickenson County students.

          The greater part of Dickenson County lies within the Russell Fork drainage basin which flows into the Levisa River. Flooding is a frequent occurrence in this area, and some floods, including the flood of 1977, have been devastating.

          In 2003, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed a Detailed Project Report. Dickenson County officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agree that providing flood protection to the County’s schools is the highest priority.

          With these concerns in mind, I had extensive discussions with senior White House officials to urge that the President’s budget provide funding for the Dickenson County flood protection plan. The President responded to my request and included $19.5 million in his budget for this purpose. That funding will enable Dickenson County in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the County’s School Board to design and construct a project to address the flood protection needs of the County’s schools.

          In furtherance of this effort, I have also worked extensively with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Agency to secure the necessary funds to construct the project that will provide flood protection to Dickenson County students. I am pleased that the Agency has responded to my request and will provide more than $42 million to assist with the County’s school flood protection plan.

          Under current federal law, the Dickenson County flood protection project is eligible for 95 percent of its costs to be provided through federal funding sources. Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the cooperation of Dickenson County is completing a Detailed Design Report (DDR) which will include specific items and costs related to the design of the plan that would provide flood protection to the County’s schools. Once the DDR is completed, the County will formally undertake the plan and construction on the project can commence.

          I am extremely pleased the Rural Development Agency has provided $42 million in federal funds to address the flood protection needs of the Dickenson County schools.       

          There are a number of individuals who deserve our thanks today for their longstanding work to address Dickenson County’s flood protection needs.

          I would like to thank Roger Stanley, Chairman of the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors, and the other members of the Board for their leadership and foresight in identifying and developing a flood protection plan for the County.

          I would also like to thank Haydee Robinson, Dickenson County’s School Superintendent, Jewell Askins, Chair of the Dickenson County School Board, and the Board’s other members for their longstanding efforts on behalf of this project.

          I also want to thank Roger Deel, Chair of the Dickenson County IDA, and the other members of the IDA for making this project possible.

          Ellen Davis, State Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Agency, and Travis Jackson, Area Director, deserve our appreciation today for the great effort they have made to secure these funds for Dickenson County.

          Finally, I want to thank my Deputy Chief of Staff, Laura Lee, for her outstanding work on behalf of Dickenson County in addressing its flood protection needs.

          Protecting Dickenson County schools from devastating flooding is an excellent investment of federal funds. I want to congratulate all here on today’s announcement. The federal funds announced today represent a major step forward in our efforts to ensure the safety of the County’s students while at school. 

 

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