Proposed Senate spending plans include funding for projects in Southwest, Southside

The Appalachian Trail area around McAfee Knob in Roanoke County — a scenic but often congested tourist spot — is potentially in line for $5.5 million in federal funding to help relieve some of that traffic.

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved spending plans for the federal government’s next fiscal year that includes money for an expanded and paved parking lot, restrooms, a shuttle stop and National Park Service signage.

That proposed appropriation tops the list of federal spending targeted for Southwest and Southside Virginia in the 11 spending bills the committee has approved so far.

Historically, items in those committee-approved spending bills are likely to pass the full Senate, where Democrats hold a slim majority, but could face an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

On Wednesday, U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both D-Va., released a list of projects that would be funded under the Senate plan — $125 million in all. “We are looking forward to advocating for these priorities and working with the House of Representatives to provide robust funding bills that address the needs of Virginia and the country,” the senators said in a statement.

Among the top items in Southwest and Southside:

• $5.5 million for improvements around McAfee Knob.
• $2.8 million for the town of Altavista to refurbish its wastewater treatment facility.
• $2.5 million for the city of Lexington, in coordination with the city of Buena Vista and Rockbridge County, to construct a health facility to serve the region.
• $2.5 million for the town of Clifton Forge to design and construct a multi-use park for children and individuals of all abilities, including those with physical, sensory, cognitive or developmental challenges.
• $2.1 million for Goodwill Industries of the Valleys to develop a free, public high school in Roanoke that provides adults with the opportunity to earn a high school diploma, access higher education and receive wraparound services such as food and child care support.
• $2.0 million for the Wise County Public Service Authority to upgrade drinking water infrastructure in the town of Pound.
• $1.9 million for the town of Wytheville to replace outdated equipment at its wastewater plant.
• $1.7 million for the city of Danville to revitalize a blighted structure into a mixed-use facility with two residential units and offices for the Danville Neighborhood Community Development Corporation, a history center, and an educational center for adult education classes, tutoring services for children and workforce development activities.
• $1.1 million for the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission to support the acquisition of property at the Roanoke Airport to extend the primary runaway.

The largest single amount for Virginia is $16 million for housing at the Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, followed by $8.2 million for a larger child care center at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Prince William County. The proposed amount for the McAfee Knob project is the third-largest on the list.

Congress faces a Sept. 30 funding deadline.

You can find the full list of proposed projects here:

• Southwest and Southside
• Shenandoah Valley
• Central Virginia
• Northern Virginia
• Hampton Roads

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