Rahall Announces Funding for Fayette County Community Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) Wednesday announced that the Southern Appalachian Labor School in Kincaid has been awarded federal funding to support youth education programs and community development efforts.

“Safe transportation is just as important as safety on the job.  This funding invests in SALS staff and students who go to work investing in our community all the while improving young people’s futures.  Practical hands on programs like those SALS administers make the most of federal dollars by multitasking each dollar for working families and the whole community,” said Rahall.

Southern Appalachian Labor School (SALS) was awarded nearly $10,000 to assist in the purchase of two new vehicles to transport students and staff.  Vehicles currently owned by SALS have become undependable and expensive to operate and repair.  SALS will use the grant to supplement $24,150 other funding to complete the $34,100 total cost to purchase the vehicles.

SALS is part of the YouthBuild network that supports educational programs and job skills training for at-risk youth from rural, under-served communities.  Students work on building affordable housing community projects to learn skills in home repair, rehabilitation and construction, computer and science, and health initiatives, as well as developing leadership skills.  The programs are staffed by AmeriCorps members and volunteers and serve 20-50 youth daily.

The funding announced today has been awarded through USDA Rural Development’s Community Facility Economic Initiative Impact program, which provides competitive grants to state and local government agencies and non-profit organizations for the repair or rehabilitation of low- and very low-income housing. 

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