Griffith, Morgan RSS Articles

Griffith Announces $2 Million ARC Grant for Regional Workforce Development

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area Consortium, whose board is based in Radford, Virginia, a $2,000,000 grant for workforce development. The funding will support the training of 450 individuals and help 75 businesses access a developed workforce and/or related services.

In response to this grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“A strengthened workforce in Southwest Virginia produces better opportunity.

“This ARC grant for $2 million helps the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area Consortium develop a talent pool that benefits growth in our regional workforce and local economy.”

BACKGROUND

Project “POWERing Pathways: Advancing Southwest Virginia’s Workforce” will expand access to training programs for roughly 450 people. These opportunities will serve businesses and employees throughout Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, Smyth, Washington and Wythe Counties. The talent pool in the Cities of Bristol, Galax and Radford will also receive support.

ARC will collaborate with community partners and advance relationships in high-demand employment sectors related to health care, manufacturing and skilled trades.

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Griffith Announces More Than $2.4 Million USDA Rural Development Grant for Dickenson County Broadband

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has awarded IGoTechnology, Inc. (iGo), based in Grundy, Virginia, a $2,405,739 grant. The funding supports construction of 25 miles of fiber in Dickenson County as part of a fiber-to-the-premises network.

In response to this grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Improved broadband networks strengthen rural community access to remote learning, telemedicine and telework.

“This grant for more than $2.4 million helps iGo install new broadband infrastructure to serve internet to Dickenson County households.”

BACKGROUND

According to USDA Rural Development, this project is estimated to benefit more than 300 people in Dickenson County, including 14 businesses and two farms.

As part of the project, iGo will establish a community center in Haysi for resident to use free high-speed internet.

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Ninth District Traveling Staff Office Hours for November

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Griffith’s Ninth District STAFF will be available at the following locations during the month of November.

In the event of inclement weather (heavy snow, sleet, icy rain, etc.), traveling office hours may be rescheduled to avoid putting constituents at risk. If a County’s or City’s schools are closed, then its office hours will be closed as well. Please contact the Christiansburg Office at 540-381-5671 or the Abingdon Office at 276-525-1405 with any questions or to schedule an appointment time in the event of office hour closure.

November 9, 2026

Scott County: 9:00 am – 10:30 am

County Administrator’s Office

Conference Room

190 Beech Street

Gate City, VA 24251

Lee County: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Lee County Sheriff’s Office

Conference Room

33640 Main Street

Jonesville, VA 24263

Wise County (Big Stone Gap): 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Big Stone Gap Municipal Complex

216 Wood Ave. E

Big Stone Gap, VA 24219

November 10, 2026

Tazewell County (Richlands): 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Town of Richlands Offices

200 Washington Sq

Richlands, VA 24641

Buchanan County: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Town of Grundy Offices

1185 Plaza Dr.

Grundy, VA 24614

November 12, 2026

Giles County: 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Town of Pearisburg Offices

Council Chambers

112 Tazewell Street

Pearisburg, VA 24134

Bland County: 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Bland County Courthouse

First Floor Conference Room

612 Main Street

Bland, VA 24315

Wythe County: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Wythe County Sheriff’s Office

Conference Room

245 South 4^th Street

Wytheville, VA 24382

Radford: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm

Radford Recreation Building

200 George Street

Radford, VA 24141

Smyth County: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Smyth County Administrator’s Office

Conference Room, Suite 100

121 Bagley Circle

Marion, VA 24354

Pulaski County: 2:30 pm – 4:00pm

Pulaski County Administration Building

First Floor Conference Room

143 3^rd Street NW

Pulaski, VA 24301

November 17, 2026

Craig County: 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Craig County Courthouse

108 Court Street

New Castle, VA 24127

Roanoke County: 11:30am – 1:00pm

South County Library

Meeting Room

6303 Merriman Road

Roanoke, VA 24018

November 18, 2026

Carroll County: 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Carroll County Administration Building

County Administrator’s Office, Conference Room

605 – 1 Pine Street

Hillsville, VA 24343

Galax: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Galax Municipal Building

Conference Room

111 E. Grayson Street

Galax, VA 24333

Grayson County: 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Grayson County Administration Building

Board of Supervisors Room

129 Davis Street

Independence, VA 24348

November 19, 2026

Tazewell County (Tazewell): 10:00 am – 11:30 am

American Legion Building

226 Central Avenue

Tazewell, VA 24651

Russell County: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Town of Lebanon Government Offices

72 Gibson Street

Lebanon, VA 24266

November 20, 2026

Bedford County: 9:00am – 10:30am

Town of Bedford Municipal Building

First Floor Conference Room

215 E. Main Street

Bedford, VA 24523

Franklin County: 12:00pm – 1:30pm

Franklin County Government Center

Conference Room B-23

1255 Franklin Street

Rocky Mount, VA 24151

November 23, 2026

Henry County: 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Henry County Administration Building

Summerlin Room - Board of Supervisors Meeting Chambers

3300 Kings Mountain Rd

Martinsville, VA 24112

Patrick County: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm

Patrick County Administration Building

Conference Room

106 Rucker Street

Stuart, VA 24171

Floyd County: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Town of Floyd Government Offices

Community Room

203 East Oxford St

Floyd, VA 24091

November 24, 2026

Dickenson County: 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Center for Education & Research

First Floor Conference Room #155

818 Happy Valley Drive

Clintwood, VA 24228

Norton: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm

High Knob Destination Center, Conference Room

1147 Laurel Ave SW

Norton, VA 24273

Wise County (Wise): 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Wise County Courthouse

Law Library, Second Floor

206 E. Main Street

Wise, VA 24293

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Congressman Griffith’s Weekly E-Newsletter 10.29.26

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

I advocate for the American way of life and the American Dream based on individualism, hard work and the ability to move up the social ladder.

Accordingly, I have voiced my staunch opposition to socialism and its impacts on society.

This Congress, I supported H. Con. Res. 58 to denounce the horrors of socialism and H. Res. 1490 to condemn socialism in all its forms.

While the declarations made by the House passed, nearly all Democrats opposed these resolutions.

This difference in Congressional opinions reflects the unfortunate reality that the popularity of socialism is growing in America.

A new Gallup poll published in September found that 43% of Americans now have a positive view of socialism.

This is the first time socialism has received a favorable rating above the 40^th percentile since Gallup started tracking this metric in 2010.

But the tales of socialism date back well before 2010.

Following the Nazi Germany surrender in 1945, the United Kingdom (UK) held parliamentary elections. Wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his Conservative Party faced an electoral challenge from the socialist-leaning Labour Party.

Labour, whose Let Us Face the Future manifesto made socialist policy promises of nationalizing sectors of its economy and raising taxes on the wealthy, won in a landslide.

But the resulting Labour government policies would create a sluggish economy, mishandle housing shortages and extend wartime food rationing.

The intense uproar over the rationing of bread and flour turned public sentiment against Labour. In 1951, the UK elected Churchill once more, this time to help put an end to the rationing.

In addition to Churchill’s reforms, more structural reforms to the socialist policies were later made by Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher’s actions helped propel the country into an era marked by economic growth.

France’s socialist policies are in today’s spotlight. France is struggling to afford spending on public programs.

As Jonah Goldberg with the online news publication The Dispatch highlighted, government spending accounts for 57% of France’s gross domestic product (compared to 23% for the U.S.).

France also spends more than any other European country on “social protection.”

This formula has French policymakers in a pickle.

How would the government address its budget?

When the moment came, France opted for budget cuts impacting teachers, students and communities.

And how did the French public respond?

For weeks, mass protests and riots engulfed the country. The protests have been seemingly hijacked by far-left groups advocating for the collapse of French institutions.

French President Emmanuel Macron blamed the “political and seditious acts by ultra-left groups” for the riots and looting.

This unrest resulted in an historic town hall being burned, tens of thousands of police officer deployments and the nation of France being on edge.

The French dilemma is just the latest evidence of what Thatcher described as the problem with socialism. “Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people’s money,” she said in 1976.

In addition to the challenges of socialism, the French protests gave us an inside look at the ultra-left groups and their more concerning threat: to tear down Western Civilization.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently delivered a speech in front of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. It was right here where the fathers of Western Civilization planted the seeds of law, citizenship and democratic principles.

Rubio tied the founding of our country to Greece: “The men who founded my country were fascinated by the heritage we inherited from yours...The civilization of Athens and Rome transformed an infant seaboard republic into a continental empire.”

I stand with Secretary Rubio’s commitment to preserve the ideals, freedoms and strengths that ultimately made the Western World. Like he said, the essential traits to define the West include “fierce individuality and relentless ambition; daring exploration and invention; a yearning for discovery, for adventure, risk and glory.”

In Congress, I will continue to fight back against the radical wing of the Democratic Party, particularly the policies of the Democratic Socialists of America. They want to redefine what America stands for, transforming America into a socialist country and in my opinion making the United States weak.

While we still need a social safety net, I want everyone to have the opportunity to succeed in America. And where possible, to be able to lift themselves up by hard work, determination and ingenuity. This possibility of being able to make oneself a success is the gateway to reaching the American Dream. Socialism throughout history has extinguished opportunities of reaching great success.

If you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at https://morgangriffith.house.gov/.

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Griffith Announces More Than $2.1 Million DOT Public Safety Grant to Tazewell County

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the County of Tazewell, Virginia, a $2,118,842 grant. The funding supports the installation of safety improvement features such as double centerline, edge line striping and warning signs, among others. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Tazewell County has identified six high-risk corridors with rural two-lane roads that pose risks to the safety of motorists, travelers and pedestrians.

“This DOT grant for more than $2.1 million helps Tazewell County make road improvements that reduce the risk for fatal and serious injury crashes.”

BACKGROUND

This grant money was made available through the DOT Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant program.

Road improvements will include 10.8 miles of double centerline striping, 10.7 miles of rumble strips, 1.38 miles of high-friction surface treatments, 60 signs, and targeted transition zone upgrades.

Project work will be directed towards Jewell Ridge Road, Falls Mills Road, Baptist Valley Road, Wardell Road, Indian Creek Road and Kents Ridge Road.

In May 2026, Congressman Griffith authored a letter of support for a local transportation safety project in Tazewell County.

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Griffith Announces $1 Million ARC Grant for Lee County

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded Lee County, Virginia, a $1 million grant. This funding will support a housing infrastructure project to help serve local and prospective residents in Ewing.

In response to this grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Shortages in available housing limit those who wish to live in Lee County, contribute to its economy and work at the Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk Veterinary Teaching Center.

“This ARC grant for $1 million helps Lee County lead a housing initiative that results in community development and economic growth.”

BACKGROUND

According to ARC, this project will construct 6,610 linear feet of new water line and 338,256 square feet of new roadway.

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Griffith Announces $1 Million DOE Award to Virginia Tech

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation has awarded a $1,000,000 grant to Virginia Tech. The funding will support Virginia Tech in leading efforts to grow a skilled workforce required to produce, process, recover and recycle critical minerals on American soil. Virginia Tech is one of 16 schools nationwide to receive this funding.

In response to this grant, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Critical mineral extraction is key to American energy dominance and reducing our dependence on foreign adversaries.

“This $1 million grant helps Virginia Tech chart a path forward for American dominance in mining.”

BACKGROUND

This funding is supported by the DOE Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies (PROSPECT) initiative. Congressman Griffith recently celebrated the launch of this program and what it means for Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech is home to a Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering. Supported by expert faculty, the Department trains its graduates to help lead the world in the extraction and production of critical minerals and energy resources to fuel future technological innovations.

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Griffith Announces Nearly $25 Million in Grants for Regional Economic Development Coalition Projects

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded $24,791,450 in grants for economic development projects promoting additive manufacturing technologies. The breakdown of the grants is as follows:

$16,972,068 to support the Virginia Tech College of Engineering in designing products that employ additive manufacturing processes
$4,413,327 to support the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in training 2,000 workers in advanced manufacturing skills through expanded apprenticeship programs
$3,406,055 to help the New River Valley Regional Commission in expanding the local additive manufacturing industry

“Additive manufacturing and advanced materials processing operations continue to grow in the region, as highlighted by recent announcements that MELD Manufacturing of Christiansburg will build a new 12,000-square foot facility,” said U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith. “These EDA grants for nearly $25 million help our region expand its additive manufacturing base, generate local manufacturing jobs and strengthen economic development coalitions. This money is to be supported by additional money from the region and industry partners.”

“President Trump promised to bring advanced manufacturing back to America, and this grant delivers in southern and southwest Virginia. Nearly $25 million in federal funding supported by $195 million in total commitments will train 2,000 workers and give local manufacturers the test beds to design, prototype, and bring new products to market faster than ever before,” said U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

BACKGROUND

These funds were made possible through the EDA Disaster Supplemental Grant Program.

Ninth District private sector partners also making commitments to these various projects include Hollingsworth and Vose as well as MELD Manufacturing. Coalition partners also include the Roanoke-Blacksburg Innovation Alliance and Virginia Manufacturing Association.

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Congressman Griffith’s Weekly E-Newsletter 10.23.26

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Major League Baseball (MLB) will crown new champions this fall.

The Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers will compete for their first World Series championship in franchise history.

Just before Americans welcome a first-time baseball champion, Southwest Virginia welcomed a first-of-a-kind Hall of Famer to the region.

In October, 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Billy Wagner returned home for a dedication ceremony in downtown Tazewell.

Many in Southwest Virginia claim Billy Wagner as their own.

Wagner’s place of birth is Marion. But when he was with his aunt and uncle in his high school years, he lived in Tannersville.

He attended Tazewell High School where he was a dual-sport athlete in football and baseball.

Because of multiple broken right arms he suffered as a kid, he converted to pitching left-handed. Playing for the late Tazewell High School coach Lou Peery, Wagner became a pitching sensation.

Following his high school success, he stayed close to home playing for Ferrum College in Franklin County. After a dominant performance in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III, where he set four records that stand to this day, Wagner was selected 12^th overall in the 1993 MLB Draft.

To many MLB fans, Wagner is a legendary ballplayer. But to Virginians in our region, Wagner is more than that.

Wagner is a legendary human being who cares for Western Virginia.

On the day of the ceremony, I traveled to other events, including the Apple Dumpling Festival in Stuart and a fall festival thrown by the Radford Veterans of Foreign Wars.

When talking to constituents about my day’s plans, I mentioned that I’d later be attending the dedication ceremony in Tazewell.

I heard numerous accounts from people that Wagner the man was an amazing person.

One lady told me she got to know Wagner through one of his roommates at Ferrum. She recounted to me that Wagner is one of the finest men she has ever met, he cares about people and he gives back to his communities.

Wagner has a history of supporting childhood initiatives. Through the Wagner Family Foundation, Wagner helped direct resources to literacy initiatives, homeless outreach programs and organizations serving at-risk youth.

In 2005, Wagner founded the Second Chance Learning Center in Bluefield, Virginia. This Center provided tutoring and counseling services for local underserved children.

During Wagner’s 2025 Hall of Fame induction speech, he wore a Tazewell County pin and Ferrum College pin. Earlier this year, Wagner joined Ferrum baseball’s coaching staff.

Despite a time-consuming career that spanned 16 seasons and forced him to move back and forth across the country, Wagner never failed to support his family and stay connected with our region.

Wagner raised his four kids alongside his wife, Sarah, who is also a standout athlete from Ferrum College. Following her collegiate basketball career, she was inducted into the Ferrum College Hall of Fame. The Wagners deeply love their kids, including a son who plays in the MLB.

With the feedback I received, I headed to the Tazewell dedication ceremony.

I focused my remarks on the human side of Wagner that I learned about. I shared my earlier conversations in the day to highlight the kind of positive impact that Wagner had on his many friends here in Virginia.

Those that attended the ceremony included elected officials and community leaders. Coach Peery’s wife listened to Wagner comment about the role models that helped shape his life, and how her husband was almost like a father to Wagner.

The only thing that would have made the day better, according to Wagner, was if Peery was alive to celebrate this moment with him.

After opening by thanking God, Wagner’s emotional remarks praised Tazewell: “It was you guys that inspired me. The town of Tazewell means more to me than words can express…This is the hardest speech I have ever had to give, because you are my family and I love you.”

After the speeches, he threw a pitch to one of his former Tazewell teammates, who caught it on behalf of all of Wagner’s Tazewell and Ferrum teammates. It was a heater!

A new downtown park in Tazewell, “Billy Wagner Park,” features a statue of Wagner and a plaque noting his membership in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, something no other D-III athlete has ever done.

It was an honor for me to be there in person and celebrate with the community.

Wagner’s words and actions not only inspire athletes and athletic programs in our region. They inspire the human heart.

That is what Southwest Virginia is all about.

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Chairman Griffith Helps Lead Effort to Revamp Rural Patient Access to Clinical Trials, Accelerate New Treatments to Market

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, members of the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled legislation to revamp patient access to clinical trials. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, and U.S. Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), a member of the Subcommittee on Health, released a bill titled the Faster Clinical Trials Act, which aims to streamline clinical processes, reduce regulatory burdens and enhance FDA capacities to expand access to therapies and treatments for patients. The bill seeks to improve the clinical trial landscape, promoting clinical research in routine health care settings, accelerating new-treatment development, and increasing innovative therapy access.

“Patients in rural communities like Virginia’s Ninth District often travel hours to participate in clinical trials for needed medical treatments,” said Chairman Griffith. “This reality discourages people from participating in clinical trials and hampers research efforts.

“Clinical trials play a major role in treatment discovery and research breakthroughs, especially for rare diseases where there are few, if any, available therapies on the market at times. The Faster Clinical Trials Act will expand research efforts, facilitate treatment options and support American patients, particularly in rural America.

“I thank Congressman Auchincloss for his proactive work, including working with me and my team, to develop these ideas in a comprehensive bill. I look forward to continued collaboration on policy ideas.”

“This is a science infrastructure bill,” said Congressman Auchincloss. “Researchers need quality data to inform hypotheses and experiments, turnkey clinical sites to test safety and efficacy, and evidence-driven standards. Data, trials, and standards are R&D infrastructure, and this legislation upgrades that infrastructure for the century of biology. I'm grateful to Chairman Griffith for his partnership.”

BACKGROUND

The Faster Clinical Trials Act also contains measures that were included in the Energy and Commerce Committee bill, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, that passed out of Committee this year. These measures include the Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act led by Representative August Pfluger (R-TX) and the Expedited Access to Biosimilars Act led by Representatives Nick Langworthy (R-NY) and Kim Schrier (D-WA).

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