City of Huntington Receives Nearly $500,000 for Grant Projects

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) — The city of Huntington has been awarded nearly $500,000 in grant money to be used in ways that will directly affect residents.

City leaders were presented the grants Wednesday afternoon in Charleston.

A transportation grant of $300,000 was given to complete "phase 3" of the Old Main Corridor Project on Huntington's 4th Avenue. This phase consists of the area between 11th and 14th streets. The project includes new lighting, wider sidewalks and helps connect downtown Huntington to Marshall University.

A $130,000 grant was awarded to Southside Elementary School for safety programs.

Jennifer Williams, who helped secure the grant, told WSAZ.com the money will go toward bike racks and shelters for the school grounds, as well as safety education programs. Williams said eventually the school hopes to generate a "human school bus" -- a group of students, with an adult leader, who walk or ride bikes to school together. That idea is two fold: clean air and healthy students.

Finally, $64,000 in grant money was secured for the Paul Ambrose Trail for Health. The money will go to pave a bike and walking path at Rotary Park.

The money was awarded from grants by the state of West Virginia.