Fairmont State University has been awarded more than $2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending funds for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, thanks to Senator Shelley Moore Capito and Senator Jim Justice. The university received $643,000 for campus police resource upgrades and $1,650,000 for aviation equipment.
“Fairmont State University is profoundly grateful for this federal funding, which will bolster two critical priorities for our institution: the safety of our campus community and the continued growth of our aviation program,” said President Mike Davis. “I want to thank Senator Shelley Moore Capito and Senator Jim Justice for their support of West Virginia and for recognizing the importance of these investments. These funds will equip our police officers with advanced resources to help keep our students, faculty, staff, and visitors safe, while also allowing our Aviation program to expand capacity to prepare highly skilled pilots for a workforce that is urgently needed in West Virginia and across the nation. This support strengthens the student experience at Fairmont State, advances economic development, and expands workforce opportunity throughout North Central West Virginia.”
The funding will be used to equip the Fairmont State University Police Department with updated resources to better prevent crime and protect the campus and community. The department has Mutual Aid Agreements in place that enable law enforcement to work together in one another’s jurisdictions upon request. The award will improve the department’s interoperability with Marion County Department of Homeland Security Emergency Management and 911 by enabling the purchase of updated resources.
The funds allocated to the aviation program will be used to increase the capacity of Fairmont State’s flight center through the purchase of additional aircraft, creating more opportunities for future pilots. Fairmont State boasts a Federal Aviation Administration Part 141 flight training center that produces approximately a dozen commercial pilot graduates a year. The new aircraft will help the university keep pace with North Central West Virginia’s aerospace workforce demand.
The Congressionally Directed Spending process allows members of Congress to allocate federal funds to specific projects in their states or districts, supporting local initiatives and community development.
