Governor Kaine Announces $2.3 Million in Support for Accomack County
– Grant will support infrastructure, broadband improvements for the development of the Wallops Island Research Park and Eastern Shore –
RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced two major funding initiatives to support economic development on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Accomack County has been awarded a $700,000 Virginia Community Development Block Grant (VCDBG) to support infrastructure improvements for a future research park on Wallops Island. In addition, Governor Kaine announced he will submit a $1.6 million budget amendment to provide additional support to extend broadband capacity on the Eastern Shore.
The Wallops Island Research Park will support education, research and economic development along the Eastern Shore. Existing educational institutions including the Marine Science Consortium and the Virginia Space Flight Academy will be incorporated into the park, which will leverage government and academic investments and expertise in the area to establish new resources, services, and collaborations focused on commercial aerospace, applied earth science, and educational offerings.
The Governor’s $1.6 million budget amendment for the Eastern Shore’s broadband initiative will be included in his 2007 budget proposal, to be released December 15. This appropriation will be in addition to $1.4 million allocated through the 2006 General Assembly. The funds will provide additional support for the extension of broadband on the Eastern Shore.
“These two major funding announcements will serve as building blocks for a new high technology research park on Wallops Island, creating an economic development engine for the entire Eastern Shore,” said Governor Kaine. “Providing access to reliable, high speed broadband is an essential public investment, attracting high tech industries and strengthening economic development.”
“This is very good news for Accomack and the Eastern Shore. The research park has tremendous potential. The research park will benefit not only the Eastern Shore but also the entire Commonwealth,” said Delegate Lynwood W. Lewis, Jr. “The Governor’s commitment to move forward with the broadband project provides crucial economic development infrastructure for the Eastern Shore.”
Accomack County applied for the $700,000 VCDBG grant funds under the VCDBG Community Economic Development Fund. Funds will be used to provide infrastructure improvements to support the location of the Wallops Island Research Park, including support for water and wastewater facilities, roadways, taxiways and fiber optics. Ground is expected to be broken soon on the park’s first business, BaySys Technologies.
The VCDBG is a federally-funded grant administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) since 1982. DHCD is committed to creating safe, affordable, and prosperous communities to live, work and do business in Virginia.
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