Beckley receives $125,000 grant to design new downtown sidewalks

The City of Beckley received $125,000 in state and federal funding to begin designing and engineering new sidewalks along Main Street in Uptown Beckley, state officials announced July 10, 2026.

The award advances the project into its design phase. The funding is intended to support sidewalks that improve pedestrian safety and accessibility in the Uptown area, with expected benefits for shoppers, visitors and local small businesses.

The grant funds planning and engineering work rather than sidewalk construction. That distinction leaves the project at an early stage, but it provides funding to develop the plans needed for any later construction decision.

Part of a five-project package

Beckley’s award is part of a $637,000 funding package for five infrastructure and community-development projects in Beckley and the surrounding region. The broader partnership includes the federal Transportation Alternatives Program and the Recreational Trails Program.

The $125,000 designated for Beckley is specifically tied to the design and engineering of new downtown sidewalks along Main Street. The $637,000 total covers the five-project regional package and does not represent funding solely for work within the city.

What the project could change

According to the state announcement, the sidewalk project is intended to make it safer and more accessible for people moving through Uptown Beckley. A more accessible pedestrian route could serve people visiting downtown businesses, shopping in the area or traveling between destinations along Main Street.

Small businesses are also among the groups identified as expected beneficiaries. The design and engineering phase is expected to establish more of the project’s technical details before construction could move forward.

The announcement did not provide a construction start date or a final completion date. It also did not identify the eventual length of the sidewalk improvements or their final construction cost.

For now, the confirmed action is the $125,000 grant for design and engineering. Further details about construction will depend on the plans developed during that phase and any subsequent project decisions.