The College of St. Joseph the Worker, a Catholic institution in Steubenville, Ohio, received a $5 million grant from West Virginia to fund various initiatives, including a nonprofit construction company, job training opportunities, and a pro-life public policy research center.
The grant, approved unanimously by the West Virginia Water Development Authority WDA, aims to boost economic development in the Ohio Valley, particularly in Weirton, West Virginia, near Steubenville.
The nonprofit construction company will employ students in construction trades, supporting revitalization efforts in the region. The company is expected to create jobs and positively impact the local community.
The college also plans to expand educational offerings in West Virginia, providing training in various construction trades, scholarships for local students, and possible development of a branch campus.
Additionally, about $1 million of the grant will go toward establishing a pro-life public policy research center called “The Center for the Common Good,” which will focus on promoting life-affirming policies in West Virginia.
While the grant has received support from the college, it has also faced criticism from some state Democrats, particularly for funding a partisan research center and potentially bypassing statutory requirements in the grant approval process.