WEIRTON - Two area attractions are getting some assistance with improvements in the form of a set of grants from the state of West Virginia.
The Governor's Community Partnership Program provides state grant funds for community and economic development projects throughout West Virginia. In true community partnerships, the program enables communities to expand, build and improve a variety of public facilities and services.
State Sen. Jack Yost, D-Wellsburg, along with several other local legislators, presented the Weirton Event Center and the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center with $22,000 in grant dollars. He said $10,000 would go to the Event Center and $12,000 was allocated to the museum.
Article Photos
State Sen. Jack Yost, D-Wellsburg, presented the Weirton Event Center with a $10,000 Community Participation Grant, a grant program offered through the state to make improvements throughout the community. Pictured from left is Ward 4 Councilman George Ash; Del. Phil Diserio, D-Brooke; Mayor George Kondik; Yost; Dan Greathouse, executive director for the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau; Ward 2 Councilman Chuck Wright and Ward 1 Councilman and Del. Ronnie Jones, D-Hancock. -- Angelina Dickson
Yost said local members of the West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates worked closely together to see what kind of support they could bring back to benefit the district. He said the funds could be used to purchase supplies or for construction and other activities on site that would go toward improvements.
"This is a way for us to bring back taxpayer dollars to Weirton and make use of it in a way that will benefit area residents," said Yost. "The Weirton Event Center is a great location that offers free concerts and other activities and the museum continues to work toward improving its facility."
Dennis Jones, museum president, said plans are already being made for the funds received. He said as the museum continues to get the facility in order, more display cases are needed and the $12,000 will prove helpful.
Yost said the grant dollars are small amounts, but he hopes they will go far. He said the legislators try to get the funds requested from each entity and will continue to work for the people they represent.
(Dickson can be contacted at adickson@weirtondailytimes.com)
