Edwards announces WNC-targeted funding requests for FY25
May 29, 2024
Contact: Maria Kim
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. - U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) today announced that he has requested nearly $38 million from the House Appropriations Committee - on which he sits - to assist rural and underserved communities and law enforcement in WNC.
Edwards identified 15 worthy projects across Western North Carolina, the maximum number allowed by the Appropriations Committee. These priorities, known as “Community Project Funding requests,” would benefit some of the most economically distressed and underserved areas in the 11th District. In the last appropriations cycle, Edwards secured nearly $19 million for Western North Carolina.
The Appropriations Committee will review the requests and decide whether each project will be funded and if so, at what level. The projects would be funded in fiscal year 2025, which runs from Oct. 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2025, and would tangibly improve the lives of taxpayers throughout our mountains.
Edwards prioritized funding requests that would benefit rural areas of need in Western North Carolina, especially water and sewer projects, in addition to supporting law enforcement and emergency response needs in larger cities.
Below are the funding priorities:
Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital, Murphy, NC - Facility Upgrades project: $3,000,000.
Funding for this project would be used to consolidate six existing outpatient clinics (1 Urgent Care, 2 Primary Care, 1 Urology, 1 Ortho, 1 General Surgery) into a single location on the main hospital campus, in a facility formerly occupied by a nursing home. The new clinic would create 20,000 square feet of patient care areas, as well as lab and radiology services. This funding would also allow EWCH to establish a cardiac catheterization lab at the hospital.
Hyder Mountain Lift Station and Force Main project, Clyde, NC: $3,607,425.
Funding for this project will provide for a dedicated sanitary sewer lift station and force main to pump wastewater to a new regional treatment plant in nearby Canton, NC. Replacement of the lift station and force main will ensure the Town of Clyde can achieve and maintain compliance with enforceable requirements of the Clean Water Act amid the challenges caused by the closure of Pactiv Evergreen, the primary water provider for the nearby Town of Canton.
Bryson City Fire Department Water Tender Acquisition project, Bryson City, NC: $405,000.
Funding will be used for the purchase of a new water tender to replace one of two existing tenders currently used by the department. The tanker being replaced is 31 years old and experiences frequent mechanical issues requiring expensive repair costs. This vehicle is used to transport water to fire scenes that are not within the town’s hydrant district.
McDowell County, NC Solid Waste Facility Renovation project: $5,250,000.
Funding for this project will allow for the construction of a new loading/handling facility for waste that will be able to handle the additional tonnage generated by McDowell County residences and businesses. It also will provide access and safety for users by improving road infrastructure.
Hazelwood Fire Station Construction project, Waynesville, NC: $2,970,000.
Funding for this project will provide for the construction of a new fire station, which will be constructed as a suburban station, holding three apparatus bays, ADA-compatible sleeping, and restrooms. The Town uses a functionally obsolescent volunteer fire station to house a full-time fire battalion. The bunk rooms are not ADA-accessible, and the bays cannot accommodate modern fire apparatus.
Transylvania County Ambulance Acquisition project: $367,113.
Funding for this project will provide for two ambulances with equipment for Transylvania County.
McDowell County 911 Center Construction: $3,190,000.
Funding for this project would build a new 911 center serving McDowell County to improve emergency communications and public safety for citizens, visitors, and first responders. The 911 apparatus for Marion and the surrounding areas in McDowell County currently operates out of a 500 square foot operations room which was established in 2011 on the lower level of the Marion Police Department (MPD). Since that time, the operation has outgrown the space due to new 911 technology, additional telecommunicators, and increasing call volume.
Asheville Police Department Real-Time Intelligence Center project: $529,692.
Funding for this project will provide the hardware and software needed to implement a Real-Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) at the Asheville Police Department. An RTIC serves as a centralized technology command center, aiding in gathering, analyzing, and investigating intelligence to deploy resources more efficiently and effectively.
Yancey County Sheriff's Office Communications and Security Upgrades project: $930,000.
Funding for this project will provide necessary communications and security equipment acquisition for the Yancey County Sheriff's Office. Upgrades to law enforcement communications both for personnel and patrol cars, as well as addressing vulnerabilities at the county detention center, will give the men and women who keep the community safe the most effective tools for the job.
Franklin, NC Treatment Plant Clearwell and High Service Pumps project: $3,360,000.
Funding for this project will replace the existing 56,000-gallon clearwell and high-service pumps with a new 250,000 gallon clearwell and a new pump station with two high-service pumps rated for 2.0 MGD each. Having additional storage capacity and new pumps will allow for ease in maintenance of water treatment system basins, as there will now be adequate storage (1/4 of the total daily capacity) on site which can be flowed into the system without requiring water restrictions or extended water treatment cycles.
Inflow and Infiltration Improvement to Brushy Creek Watershed project, Brevard, NC: $880,000.
Funding for this project will provide for better prevention of inflow and infiltration (I&I) into the City of Brevard's sewer system in the second half of the Brushy Creek drainage basin. This project would enhance the health and safety of the community by preventing sanitary-sewer overflows that discharge into roads, streams, parks and yards.
Robbinsville, NC Water System Improvements project: $4,976,904.
Funding for this project will provide infrastructure improvements to the water distribution systems serving the town. This project specifically replaces older and deteriorated water lines that have significant water leakage and low residual pressure. The town of Robbinsville’s water system serves 861 residential, 184 commercial, 3 institutional (Graham County Schools), and 2 industrial customers inside and outside town limits.
Mayland Community College Earth to Sky Park, Discovery Center project, Burnsville, NC: $500,000.
Funding for this project will develop a Children's Discovery Center at Mayland Community College’s Earth to Sky Park that will create educational opportunities and spark economic development while preparing our next generation for the workforce.
Town of Robbinsville Water and Sewer Service Expansion project: $5,966,640.
Funding for this project will extend water and sewer service to two new Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) economic development projects: the proposed Junaluska Cultural Development Center and the Junaluska Grave Site. Both projects will also provide significant employment opportunities for the town of Robbinsville and Graham County.
Etowah-Horse Shoe Community EMS Substation project: $2,000,000.
Funding for this project will construct an EMS substation in the Etowah-Horse Shoe community of Henderson County. This facility would provide a lifesaving base for emergency response in a growing part of the community, drastically improving response times. Currently, the Etowah Horse-Shoe Fire District services 14,005 people.
Edwards said, “The 15 community project funding requests that I submitted for FY25 would help meet some of the critical needs in WNC communities, including strengthening emergency services, supporting law enforcement officers and improving our district’s water and sewage systems. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I believe that NC-11 has a strong case on the merit of these projects and how they would make life better for our citizens and communities in a fiscally responsible manner.”
