VIRGINIA BEACH, VA: Last week, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) visited with Isle of Wight County officials to learn how the $1,250,000 she secured in the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bills will be used to construct a new elevated water storage tank. With the construction of a new hospital in Smithfield, the county requires additional infrastructure to support it, including increased water storage and higher water pressure in the area. The funding Congresswoman Kiggans secured will ensure Isle of Wight County can meet demands of its growing population and better meet its needs, including healthcare services and other critical infrastructure needs. 

The Congresswoman met with Isle of Wight County officials to learn about the project’s impact, toured the construction site of the future Riverside Smithfield Hospital, and visited the future location of the water storage tank. During her visit, Congresswoman Kiggans was joined by Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Don Rosie, Board Member William McCarty, and Isle of Wight County Administrator Randy Keaton. Pictures from this week’s visit can be found here.

“As a primary care provider, I know how important it is to meet the healthcare needs of growing communities,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “I am proud to have secured $1.25 million in federal dollars to support the construction of this new water tank and help ensure Isle of Wight residents have access not only to safe drinking water, but also critical healthcare services. In Washington, I will continue to advocate for federal funding to support projects like this to ensure our communities have the infrastructure they need to continue to grow and thrive!”

A rural county, Isle of White has long struggled to bridge its medical care gap, as first responders often have to drive anywhere between 20 and 45 minutes across the bridge from Riverside to Newport News to get patients to a hospital.

BACKGROUND: 

Congresswoman Kiggans secured $16,755,000 for 12 local projects across Southeast Virginia in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, which was signed into law on March 9, 2024. More information about this project can be found below:

Isle of Wight County Elevated Storage Tank: $1,250,000

• As a primary care provider, Congresswoman Kiggans knows how important it is to meet the healthcare needs of growing communities. Due to Isle of Wight’s rapidly expanding population, a new hospital is needed to properly serve its residents. Congresswoman Kiggans secured this funding to support the construction of the new hospital first by building an elevated storage tank. The tank will increase the County’s resilience for both domestic and fire flows, provide required VDH storage to meet current demands, provide a higher-pressure zone in the area where the tank is needed, and positively impact the County’s ability to provide safe drinking water in the future.

Additional details about the other projects Congresswoman Kiggans secured in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, can be found here.

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