Rahall: Federal Investments in Education Vital to Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his video remarks at the opening of the Reconnecting McDowell Fall Partner Meeting, U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) Thursday emphasized the need to organize education resources to aggressively pursue competitive grants in an era of no federal earmarks, and encouraged educators to fully market their programs to McDowell County families.

“The highest of summits can be reached through education,” said Rahall. “In a Congress that has banned Members from earmarking federal investments to meet specific needs in specific areas, like McDowell County, we must redouble our efforts and readjust our focus to go after every penny of competitive funding in both the public and private sectors.

“Bringing all of our educational resources to bear in Reconnecting McDowell is essential.  This is especially true of our higher education anchors – Bluefield State College, Concord, Marshall and West Virginia Universities.  Technology is a key ingredient of a winning formula to put educational resources at the doorstep of all those in McDowell County who want a brighter tomorrow for themselves and their families.

“What greater conduit to education is there today than broadband?  Locally, the thinkers and doers can more easily plug in to help them compete for future grants.  Building a sustainable grant center, in conjunction with the county school board, our towns, the county and federal agencies like the Department of Education and Economic Development Administration is paramount.

It will take efforts like this and the scores of public and private individuals, organizations, academic institutions, and businesses who have joined us in this incredible effort to write a new chapter for McDowell County.  By extending broadband access to all, the possibilities for all levels of our education community increases dramatically.

“When we reconnect and rebuild, there is one other quality about education that makes it a wise investment.  As the King of the Blues, B.B. King, has said, ‘The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.’”

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