MORGANTOWN – The West Virginia First Foundation has announced the awardees selected to receive its latest round of grant funding.
A total of $17,801,933.96 in Momentum Initiative Grants will be distributed to some 76 projects and awardees, including 16 in the 13-county Region IV, which includes Monongalia, Marion and Preston counties.
All told, just over $2.6 million has been awarded to recipients in Region 4, including: Libera, Inc. ($125,000); Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center ($125,000); Morgantown Sober Living ($250,000); Mylan Park Foundation ($125,000); Preston County Health Department ($122,650); Preston County Schools ($125,000).
According to information from the WVFF, the Momentum Initiative Grant is not geography based, but focused on one statewide target area and four regional target areas.
The statewide target area focuses on foster care and non-parental caregivers, ensuring programs can reach across the state. The statewide awardees are: National Youth Advocate Program ($954,469.45); Pressley Ridge ($974,751.00); West Virginia CASA Association ($975,000); West Virginia Wesleyan College – WV CASA Building Initiative ($947,916.00).
The four regional target areas are: Youth prevention (32 grants totaling $4 million); Recovery housing (10 grants totaling $3.8 million); Behavioral health and workforce development (15 grants totaling $3.75 million) and Day report centers and reentry programs (15 grants totaling $3.75 million).
The West Virginia First Foundation is the body established to distribute hundreds of millions of dollars coming to the state via settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors.
The Momentum Initiative Grant represents its second funding cycle, following the approximately $16.5 million distributed to 94 projects through 2024’s Initial Opportunity Grant.
For additional information, including a complete list of Momentum Initiative Grant awardees and programs, go to wvfirst.org.
