D&E receives stimulus funds

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Davis & Elkins College has received a matching grant of $220,000 through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that will aid the college in campus construction projects and completing the recently acquired community green space along Randolph Avenue.

The award was presented to D&E President G.T. "Buck" Smith by Gov. Joe Manchin. The college must raise $55,000 in matching funds by December.

Delegates Bill Hartman and Mike Ross, both D-37th District, were on hand for the presentation at the state Capitol in Charleston. The award is part of approximately $6.3 million in ARRA funds available to West Virginia through the Federal Highway Administration and the West Virginia Division of Highways.

Davis & Elkins is the only non-governmental entity and the only college or university included in the governor's announcement. The funds will be used for landscape and streetscape improvements to the new college property at Randolph Avenue and Sycamore Street as well as to improve accessibility on campus.

In receiving the grant, Smith commented, "This is a huge boost, allowing us now to proceed with developing the new landscaped campus 'gateway' along Randolph Avenue as well as add to the pleasure of our neighbors and visitors in Elkins. We are grateful to Delegates Hartman and Ross, as well as others, who had a hand in making this grant possible. We will get on immediately with efforts to secure the necessary matching funds."

The funds will help D&E construct a new sidewalk and curb around the intersection of Sycamore and Randolph and along Randolph Avenue and provide new signage, seating areas, landscaping and lighting. The completed site will provide a green space for the community and a safe sidewalk connecting to the adjacent Wees Historic District, Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church and the Henry Gassaway Davis statue.

The second project funded by the grant will provide safe ADA-compliant walkways from the Madden Student Center to Liberal Arts Hall and connect to the Booth Library bridge. The improvements will create continuous access between the Davis & Elkins Historic District and newer campus areas that serve the public, including the library, science center, chapel, auditorium, athletic and recreation facilities.