BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
KERMIT — The USDA Rural Development Rural Partners Network offered its services to the Town of Kermit during a meeting Monday.
Adam Stallings, community liaison, said the RPN was created in early 2022 to give rural communities a voice and connect them with resources. He has been with the program for two months.
“Being in a rural community, rural voices are not something often heard,” Stallings said. “Many people overlook us and don’t necessarily listen to us. And when you look at federal resources, it’s always been something that has been difficult historically.”
Stallings told council members if the town is working on and identifies certain grants or loans, he could connect them directly with individuals in those agencies.
“That’s one of the great things about Rural Partners Network,” said Stallings. “With me being just two months in, we’re looking at getting out in the communities and getting more involved. I am here if you need me.”
Alisha Johnson, also with the USDA program, said billions of dollars in federal funds had been made available during the past couple of years.
“Small communities like yours have just never had the capacity to access those dollars,” Johnson said, adding that the program does not provide funding but connects municipalities and even nonprofits to resources that do provide funding.
According to Johnson, RPN has partnered with West Virginia Grant Resources Center, a collaboration between West Virginia University and Marshall University.
“They will actually help you write the grant,” said Johnson. “They’re not going to do it from scratch, but if you go to the U.S. EDA and see assistance to coal communities or you see a Justice Assistance grant that you want to apply for and you don’t really know how to get started, go to that resource center.”
Johnson told the council that it would work directly with the grant resource center, but Stallings would assist in connecting them.
“Marshall would probably be best for you all,” said Johnson.
Mayor Charles Sparks and the council spent several minutes discussing funding opportunities with Johnson and Stallings.
In other council matters, Kermit businessman John David Messer said he wants to restore the former Kermit High School Auditorium on Main Street. Messer hopes to establish an updated gospel theater for hosting dinner shows and possibly a game room where teenagers can hang out and be supervised on the weekends.
“I think it would be really good for the community,” Newsome said.
Messer said the restoration would cost about $250,000 “to make it as nice or nicer than it’s ever been.”
According to Messer, he has a person willing to assist with grant writing.
“I would hate to see it torn down,” said Messer. “I teach music and could have a music class in that building.”
Counsel members and Messer discussed the historical value of the building.
“It was the first gym in Mingo County,” said Messer.
Mayor Charles Sparks and the council members like Messer’s ideas for the building. Sparks said he would speak to legal counsel and then advise Messer.