Clarksburg City Council to Address Federal Grant Opportunities, Public Safety Concerns at Thursday Meeting
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Clarksburg City Council will meet Thursday evening to consider key funding opportunities and discuss a range of city issues, including public safety, infrastructure, and employee wellness.
The meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Clarksburg Municipal Building (222 W. Main St.), will kick off with a special session focused on Congressional Directed Spending (CDS) grants. These federal funds—also known as Community Project Funding—recently reopened for applications after an unexpected cancellation earlier this year.
According to City Manager Tiffany Fell, the city is moving swiftly to prepare and submit applications due to a limited window of opportunity.
“These grants often require local matching funds,” Fell noted. “Council approval will be necessary in cases where the city must contribute financially. This is an important chance to secure funding for infrastructure, community development, and public safety projects that align with our city’s goals.”
Following the special session, council members will hold a work session to discuss additional matters. No formal votes will be taken during the work session, but several important topics are on the agenda.
Among them is the city’s recent joint grant application with ResCare (RESCO) to the West Virginia First Foundation. While that particular request was not funded in this round, Fell confirmed that Clarksburg’s social work program did receive partial support through a separate First Foundation grant.
“This award will allow the city to embed trained social workers with law enforcement teams, providing crisis response support for individuals experiencing mental health or substance use emergencies,” Fell said. “We’re still reviewing the award details and will provide a full report to council soon.”
Also up for discussion: a concerning string of thefts and vandalism tied to the U.S. 50 Lighting Project. The contractor overseeing the project has submitted damage reports, and city leaders are expected to weigh possible responses.
“We want to ensure council is fully informed about the extent of the problem so we can move toward solutions,” Fell stated.
The upcoming street paving season will also be a topic of conversation. With multiple infrastructure projects from outside agencies—including water and utility work—scheduled for this year, the city is strategizing how best to coordinate street repairs.
“It’s critical that we time our paving projects to avoid unnecessary rework,” Fell said. “We’re working with other providers to maximize the impact of every dollar we spend.”
Finally, council members will consider enrolling the city in the Bearing Advisors “Prevent + Protect” Program, a wellness initiative that promotes the physical, mental, and financial health of municipal employees. The program is designed to generate tax savings that can fund employee benefits at no added cost to the city.
Both the special meeting and the work session are open to the public.
