Edwards: House sending $19M to Western NC; Canton, Haywood Co.; Which other communities?

Rep. Chuck Edwards, a first-term House member with a coveted position on the appropriations committee, has earmarked $19 million for projects in his Western North Carolina district − including a workforce training center and a replacement for a sewage treatment facility that some fear could fail and pollute local waterways.

Edwards, a Henderson County Republican, said funding will go to 12 projects, with the millions of dollars flowing to a hospital, a community college, sewage treatment operations and more. The House and Senate approved the funding as part of the package of 2024 appropriations bills, which Democratic President Joe Biden signed into law March 9.

Edwards beat his Republican primary opponent, Christian Reagan, March 5. He now faces Democratic state House member Caleb Rudow in the Nov. 5 general election.

In a March 8 statement, he said he was happy that lawmakers “recognized the merit" in his earmarks that he said would "help make life better for Western North Carolinians,"

"Throughout my district work periods, I have heard from law enforcement, first responders and community leaders all across our mountains about critical needs in our communities,” he said in the release.

A major recipient was Haywood County, where the May 24 shutdown of the Pactiv Evergreen paper plant put 1,000 out of work. The three projects there will total $7.75 million.

Much less, $1 million, will go to projects in Buncombe, the most populous − and most liberal − county in Edwards' 11th District. Henderson County, a Republican stronghold, also was not on the funding list.

Edwards defended the distribution, telling the Citizen Times March 12 he chose to prioritize "rural, disadvantaged or lower-wealth areas of WNC that rarely see any help from the federal government – and that have historically not gotten their fair share of assistance – with meaningful appropriations that help change people’s lives."

The Citizen Times reached out to elected officials in both counties, including Hendersonville Mayor Barbara Volk, who did not respond. Buncombe Board of Commissioners Chair Brownie Newman declined to comment. Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer did not dispute the distribution, calling the projects "worthy."

"Investment in programs addressing vital community needs such as transportation, rural development, justice, and the environment impacts the quality of life of all  WNC residents," Manheimer said.

Henderson County Board of Commissioners Chair Rebecca McCall said the congressman has secured "millions of dollars to benefit Henderson County during his career."

"In fact, we can attribute at least $50 million toward the Ecusta Trail Project to his work for our county," McCall said, adding she was glad of the help to other communities and that each place benefits from the other's progress.

The biggest single chunk of funding, $5 million, will go to Haywood Community College to create a Workforce and Industry Center where the money will be "transformational" by providing training in advanced manufacturing, such as machining and plumbing, President Shelley White, told the Citizen Times.

"These investments will help prepare a well-trained workforce for Haywood County and WNC and improved access to high-quality training for in-demand fields," White said. "The project invests in the long-term ability of the College to support these programs, as many of the building systems at the Regional High Tech Center are in need of modernization."

Specifically, the money will go to the renovations of the Regional High Tech Center and final renovations and expansion to the Construction Trades building, she said.

Also in Haywood, $1.75 million will go toward a new sewage treatment plant in Canton to replace one now operated by the former paper plant owners and that officials fear could fail, sending waste into waterways such as the Pigeon River. In February, the plant was cited by state health officials for such leaks.

Funding breakdown

• Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and related agencies

  • $2.8 million for facility upgrades to St. Luke's Hospital in Polk County.

  • $2.5 million for a new EMS facility in Clay County.

  • $750,000 for water infrastructure improvements in the Town of Murphy.

  • $1 million for broadband expansion in Haywood County.

  • $80,000 for a water rescue boat for emergencies in Graham and Swain Counties.

  • $1.3 million for water infrastructure improvements for the Town of Rutherfordton.

• Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies

  • $1.5 million for public safety communication upgrades in Madison County.

  • $1 million for public safety communication upgrades in Transylvania County.

  • $100,000 for portable substance analyzers for law enforcement in Yancey County.

• Interior, Environment and related agencies

  • $1.75 million for a new regional wastewater treatment plant in the Town of Canton.

  • $1 million to expand water treatment plant capacity in the Town of Weaverville.

• Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and related agencies

  • $5 million to renovate and upgrade the Workforce and Industry Center at Haywood Community College.

More: Nearly year after shutdown Canton paper plant wants millions of dollars in taxes back

Buncombe, Asheville hit historic low voter turnout on Super Tuesday. What happened?

Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: House sends $19M to Western NC: Canton, Haywood, other communities