Commissioner Leonhardt Honors Service of Cedar Lakes Director Karen Facemyer

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Commissioner Leonhardt released the following statement after the announcement of the retirement of current Cedar Lakes Conference Center Director and former State Senator Karen Facemyer. Facemyer had served as the head of Cedar Lakes since May of 2017. Her last day will be Friday, December 31, 2021. “Karen has done a wonderful job leading the Cedar Lakes …

WVDA Now Taking Applications for 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grants

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is now seeking applications for FY 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Funds will be awarded to enhance the production, processing, and consumption of specialty crops in West Virginia. Six West Virginia projects were awarded a total of $284,618.10 in 2021. “Specialty crop are vital to expanding, diversifying, and enhancing …

WVDA Participates in Multi-State Emergency Response Exercise

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) took part in a three-day, multi-state emergency response exercise November 16-18. The Foreign Animal Disease Southern Agriculture Functional Exercise (FAD SAFE) was sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and included the Departments of Agriculture of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and …

WVDA Announces Additional Specialty Crop Funding Opportunity

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is now accepting applications for the 2021 Specialty Crop Block Grant H.R. 133 Stimulus Program. The program is in addition to the annual Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and was awarded by the United States Congress due to COVID-19 impacts on the food system. West Virginia is expected to receive …

Op Ed: For the Sake of Our Economy and Competitiveness, Tax Changes Must be Scrutinized

We cannot tax ourselves into prosperity, but that is exactly what some in Congress think we can and should do. While talks around infrastructure and the “Build Back Better Plan” should bring significant investment to communities throughout West Virginia, ideas for how to pay for these packages are concerning. Fortunately, there are lawmakers who are taking a slow-and-steady approach to …