Information is updated daily on: manchin.senate.gov/coronavirus

WORKING FOR YOU

JANUARY 13, 2021: MANCHIN, CAPITO ANNOUNCE $339 MILLION FOR COVID-19 RELIEF TO WEST VIRGINIA SCHOOLS
Charleston, WV - U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $339,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Education as part of the most recent COVID-19 relief package to help West Virginia schools respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding can be used for testing, to address learning loss, and to assist schools in ways like improving air quality in buildings as schools prepare for eventual reopening. This funding was made available through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), and builds on a previously announced award from the CARES Act at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The COVID-19 pandemic hit our students, teachers, and faculty hard, forcing them to quickly adjust to new ways of learning and teaching. During the negotiations for the emergency COVID-19 relief package passed at the end of last year, I advocated for this funding to support our schools and students as they navigate these difficult times. I’m glad West Virginia has received this funding to help with testing and other priorities and will continue to fight for West Virginia priorities in any future relief legislation," said Senator Manchin.  

JANUARY 13, 2021: MANCHIN, CAPITO ANNOUNCE FUNDING TO EXPAND COVID-19 TESTING, VACCINE DISTRIBUTION IN WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston, WV – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $119,346,660 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. Of the $119,346,660 appropriated for West Virginia, $103,153,083 is allocated for expanded COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, while $16,193,577 will be used for assistance in distributing the COVID-19 vaccine. 

"As cases continue to rise in West Virginia and across the nation, we must expand COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and vaccinations so we can defeat this terrible pandemic," Senator Manchin said. "This funding will help West Virginia ensure vaccines are administered to every West Virginian who wants one as they become available and will support the testing and contact tracing programs across the state that help slow the spread of the virus. We must keep working together to beat the COVID-19 virus, and I will continue to fight for West Virginia to receive funding that helps our neighbors, family and friends stay as safe as possible during these difficult times.”

TESTING & VACCINE INFO

Some testing sites require a physician’s order before testing. To report your symptoms and be directed to one of the available testing sites, contact your primary care doctor or a designated hotline for your area.  If you have gone through these steps and are still having problems getting a test, please email me at common_sense@manchin.senate.gov and a member of my staff will reach out to you to see if we can assist. For a listing of one-day, weekly, and drive-through pharmacy testing, visit the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources website: https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/pages/testing.aspx

To learn more about current COVID-19 vaccine availability, visit the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources website: https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/Pages/Vaccine.aspx

Click here for WV DHHR’s latest updates to reported COVID-19 cases

RESOURCES

Our office is working diligently to bring you the most up-to-date information as it becomes available. Click the links below for more information. All information regarding resources and more can be found on Senator Manchin’s website.

Unemployment & Direct Payments

Veterans Assistance

Basic Needs

Business Assistance

Volunteer

Feeling Ill?

WV 211:

United Way of West Virginia provides an important service to West Virginians by helping users navigate the vast number of resources available to aid with healthcare issues, food shortages, mental health questions and more. This program is more important now than ever as we battle the COVID-19 pandemic and I commend United Way for continuing to serve their fellow West Virginians through this time.

United Way’s new 2-1-1 will make information on a wide variety of local support services more accessible across our entire state,” said United Way of Central WV President, Margaret O’Neal. “Whether it’s information for locating a health clinic, finding child care programs, or getting housing assistance, 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember, go-to resource for individuals and families.

To utilize these resources West Virginians can:

Call 2-1-1
Text your zip code to 898-211
Visit http://www.wv211.org/contact
Call toll-free 1-833-848-9905

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All information is available and updated daily on manchin.senate.gov/coronavirus.

2021 Business Leaders Survey Available

This optional survey, "Current Issues for West Virginia Small Business Leaders,” is designed by a working group of educators, business experts and state leaders to help understand the current issues and trends for businesses in West Virginia and to identify potential opportunities for growth.

Click here to learn more or participate.

Paycheck Protection Program for Small Businesses

The U.S. Small Business Administration will re-open the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal to PPP-eligible lenders with $1 billion or less in assets for First and Second Draw applications on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 9 am ET. The portal will fully open on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 to all participating PPP lenders to submit First and Second Draw loan applications to SBA.

First Draw PPP Loans are for those borrowers who have not received a PPP loan before August 8, 2020. Second Draw PPP Loans are for eligible small businesses with 300 employees or less, that previously received a First Draw PPP Loan and will use or have used the full amount only for authorized uses, and that can demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020. The maximum amount of a Second Draw PPP loan is $2 million.

To find a list of participating lenders please visit the SBA Lender Match website here.

For more information please review to our SBA COVID Relief SBA One Pager (hyperlink our PDF there) or visit the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program homepage here.

Appalachian Regional Commission FY21 POWER Grants

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) released a Request for Proposals for applications for the 2021 POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative. POWER seeks to diversify economies in communities and regions affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries due to the changing economics of America’s energy production.

ARC is making funds available through the POWER Initiative for regional investments to develop a competitive workforce, foster entrepreneurial activities, develop industry clusters, strengthen substance abuse response, and expand broadband in coal-impacted areas. Required Letters of Intent (due Friday, March 5 by 5:00 pm EST) should be submitted via this fillable PDF form to power@arc.gov, and full applications (due Friday, April 16 by 5:00 pm EST) should be submitted online at power.arc.gov beginning Tuesday, February 16.

Interested applicants can receive virtual, technical assistance through Understanding POWER 2021: An Application Workshop at 11:00am EST on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. This session will update interested applicants on the POWER 2021 RFP and provide tips for a well-rounded application. Shortly after this session, registrants will receive links to seven prerecorded training videos, and will then have the opportunity to ask questions of ARC staff during a live Question & Answer Session on Thursday, February 25 at 11:00 am EST. Understanding POWER 2021 and the live Question & Answer Session are free to attend, although registration is required by 5:00pm EST on Friday, January 29, 2021.

The 2021 POWER Request for Proposals (RFP), workshop details, and other information about ARC’s POWER Initiative are available at arc.gov/POWER.

To learn more, call my office Toll Free at (855) 275-5737, email me, or find me on social media:

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