Why couldn't ALPUC get grant money to pay for water or sewer system upgrades?

All infrastructure improvement proposals in the State of West Virginia are required to be reviewed by the Jobs Development and Infrastructure Council, which determine whether the project will be approved and how it will be funded. All WV regulatory agencies are represented on the council. Alpine Lake's water and sewer upgrade projects went through this process in 2004?

The primary reason grant money was not awarded was that the median annual income for our project area was determined to be $52,000 in 2002 when the required income survey was completed. By comparison the median annual income in Preston County at the time was around $30,000. To be eligible for grants, the project area must be shown to be "low or, at most, moderate income" as defined by federal law, meaning less than the median income in the county where the project is located. "Low and moderate" income levels are established periodically by the federal government based on census data.

Individual homeowners may qualify for such assistance if their incomes are low enough, but application must be made on an individual basis. If you feel that you fit into this category, ALPUC can tell you whom to call. If you own more than one home, as is the case for around four fifths of Alpine Lake homeowners, it is unlikely that you can qualify for assistance with your water and sewer bills.