Latest news with #CongressionallyDirected
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
More child care coming to southwestern Minnesota
LUVERNE, MN (KELO) — A new child care center is coming to southwestern Minnesota. It's exciting news for not only families, but for the entire community. Kids Rock! Childcare Center in Luverne, Minnesota, will offer up to 186 spots for kids from six weeks to 12 years of age. 'What I'm hearing here in my tours and in my interviews is that they live here, but there's no child care here. So, they're going to work in Sioux Falls, and they're going to care in Sioux Falls or the surrounding communities where there is care,' executive director Sara Robinson said. Demolition of Hills, MN school uncovers century-old surprise Bringing families back to Luverne is a step toward addressing the child care shortage that several communities face. It may not solve the entire problem at once, but it's another gear in the right direction. 'This is only a part of it. And even at 186 spots, you think, wow, a lot of day care, but we're only going to take care of a portion of the shortage,' Luverne Mayor Patrick Baustian said. 'But what this will enable our community to do is to continue to thrive economically through economic development, through more housing growth.' More families could also mean more workers returning to the area. The center will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. 'To bring those young people back to the community, to the small town is super important,' Robinson said. 'Now we can bring back those jobs, we can bring back those children to the community because then we have a center to do that.' U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith toured the new facility on Wednesday morning. 'There are families all over this community that are going to walk in the doors of this building and they're going to feel a sigh of such relief,' Smith said. In 2023, Klobuchar and Smith helped secure $2.6 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) for the project. 'I don't think you've ever seen $2.6 million be better spent than this of federal funds,' Klobuchar said. 'Of course, this wouldn't have happened without the community standing up.' The facility's grand opening to families is on June 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ten projects selected for New River Gorge region to boost economic development
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) announced the ten awardees of its NRG Working Group Technical Assistance Fund, amounting to more than $490,000. Beckley Planning Commission approves site plan for drive-through business on Harper Road According to a press release, Jina Belcher, Executive Director of NRGRDA, explained that funding through a Congressionally Directed Spending request affords the New River Gorge Regional Working Group Technical Assistance Fund to give support to projects within the areas they serve. During the competitive selection process, non-profit organizations and governmental units within the area sent in proposals for a variety of improvements to communities that would bring about an economic impact that would justify the funds. Selected projects had to: Focus on a need for an infrastructure improvement necessary for an increase in economic growth Bolster business retention through working with local businesses for improvement project implementation Find potential chances for connectivity in the region through the implementation of the project Those selected for funding suit the NRG Working Group priorities, which are geared towards utilities, public health and quality of place, transportation, development, and environmental justice, the release noted. Lauren Daigle to perform at the 100th State Fair of West Virginia Selected project proposals include: Raleigh County Airport Rail Access Initiative Meadow River Recreational Corridor Master Plan New River Train: Planning for Fayette County's Public Indoor Training and Recreation Facility Forest Hill Water Access and Infrastructure Enhancement Project Raleigh County Parks and Recreation Master Plan Camp Summers Multipurpose Building and Site Development Project Summersville Lake Trail System Feasibility Study Site Suitability Plan for Longacre Section of Smithers WV Hawks Next Rail-Trail Network Mountain Bike Study Beckley Raleigh County Convention Center Economic Impact Study Belcher stated that projects receiving assistance must be put in at least one of the four counties within the New River Gorge Region: Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers. Though this round of funding was limited, NRGRDA aims to secure more funding to support projects in the future. For more information regarding the NRG Working group, visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
