Kanawha County Authority Secures Funding for Four New Ambulance Hubs
The Emergency Ambulance Authority will build permanent facilities in four West Virginia communities using state and federal grants, ending a period of leased operations.
By Marco Whitaker ·
The Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority intends to construct permanent facilities in South Charleston, St. Albans, Dunbar, and Marmet.
Executive Director Lance Wheeler stated that these four locations currently rely on temporary leases rather than owned infrastructure. The authority projects the completion of all four stations by the close of 2027.
Wheeler explained that lease arrangements create uncertainty regarding long-term housing for ambulance crews. He emphasized that the new sites will be owned by the authority, ensuring stable locations for paramedics and EMTs for decades.
The construction schedule begins with the South Charleston site, which requires approximately four months to build. Work on the St. Albans facility will commence immediately after, with similar timelines for the Dunbar and Marmet locations.
The project is funded by a $2.25 million grant from U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. An additional $1 million comes from U.S. Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., allocated when he served as governor. Wheeler described the initiative as a partnership between federal, state, and local leaders.
Wheeler noted that the authority could not have completed the project without this collaborative funding. The new stations will support the county 911 system by placing medical teams in permanent, readily accessible locations.
