Manchin quietly pressed Biden administration to fund group led by campaign treasurer

Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia has been caught up in a controversy after urging the Biden administration to grant taxpayer dollars to a climate coalition that includes a group whose head is the campaign treasurer for the senator. Records show that Manchin signaled his support for the West Virginia-based Appalachian Climate Technology Now coalition to receive $100 million through President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill signed in March 2021.

The head of an economic development group in the coalition called the Charleston Area Alliance, Jack Rossi, also happens to be the treasurer for Manchin’s Senate campaign, according to campaign finance disclosures.

Despite this, Manchin’s letter made no mention of his ties to Rossi. The ACT Now coalition had previously brought forth an application to the Commerce Department to receive a portion of the $1 billion that the American Rescue Plan would hand out through its Build Back Better Regional Challenge.

The ACT Now coalition said in its application that it would “develop and scale climate resilient industries” in central Appalachia and invest in green energy. In December 2021, the Biden administration announced that the coalition was one of 60 finalists among 529 applicants to receive the funding.

Then, in September 2022, the ACT Now coalition became one of 21 finalists to receive the bulk handout — receiving roughly $62.8 million in grants “to spur job growth in 21 economically distressed and coal-impacted counties in southern West Virginia by creating a hub of clean energy and green economy jobs,” the department announced.

Despite the controversy, Manchin praised the funding, saying, “It is a testament to our hardworking fellow West Virginians and forward-thinking communities that West Virginia was one of just 21 recipients of the EDA’s Regional Challenge program. I’m pleased the EDA is investing nearly $63 million in communities across southern West Virginia to strengthen local economies, support our energy industries and expand job opportunities.”

The Commerce Department did not return a request for comment.