JULIA ROBERTS GOAD
Staff Writer
WILLIAMSON - The Coalfield Community Action Partnership, or Coalfield CAP, is moving into a new location in order to better serve the needs of the community.
The new location is a former showroom and garage of Moore’s Autogroup in West Williamson.
Coalfield CAP is one of the 16 Community Action Agencies in the state of West Virginia.
Coalfield Community Action Partnership, Inc. is a private non-profit corporation that serves residents of Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky. They offers a variety of services and programs including Head Start, Community Services Block Grant, weatherization, personal care, assistance to seniors, and other services,
Opened in 1965, the agency provides comprehensive services to economically disadvantaged children, families, and the elderly and to enhance their quality of life by empowering them to become and remain self-sufficient. The agency was created under the administration of Lyndon Johnson as apart of his War on Poverty and has evolved into one of the largest social service organizations in the area. The agency operates five major federal and state grants along with some smaller programs.Coalfield CAP employs approximately 240 people. A 12 member Board of Directors governs Coalfield CAP.
The agency’s Williamson office now provides services for seven West Virginia counties and two Kentucky counties. Their weatherization program which also encompasses Boone and Clay counties and is the second largest in the state. Using federal stimulus funding, 600 homes were weatherized last year and they expect to upgrade 220 in the coming year.
The agency plans to move into the new building at the end of July.
Bill Harmon is a superintendent with MCP, the company that is renovating the buildings for Coalfield CAP.
The buildings are approximately 3,500 and 5,000 square feet, Harmon said.
“We are building 37 offices,” he explained. “Along with bathrooms, kitchens, and a big 35 by 50 foot training room. The training room will have computer stations as well as a big screen that will come down out of the ceiling that will be used for training videos and things like that.”
Although MCP usually does mine site construction, Harmon said the crew was not outside their comfort zone working on the new CAP offices.
“We have 14 people working here, we have done everything, electrical, carpentry, plumbing, the heating and cooling system, even the drywall.”
But Harmon said the most interesting part of the project was the demolition before construction.
“We had to gut the buildings,” he said. “So we used a bobcat (a small endloader-type of equipment) and just knocked down walls. That was fun!”
Coalfield CAP asks anyone with questions about their new location or their programs to call 304 235-1701 or visit coalfieldcap.org.
Post a Comment
