| State officials from the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity will be auditing and reviewing the operations of the 11-county Community Resources, Inc. starting next week.
Officials have reportedly shut down the agencies weatherization operation, indicating there could be problems over the management of that $3 million grant.
The agencies main office is located in Parkersburg.
State officials held a special meeting Monday with CRI board members, indicating a myriad of problems. Several of the board members could not attend, because of the quick notice.
Executive Director, Steve Ellis, has advised board members the investigation is a "witch hunt."
A board meeting is scheduled for November 19th.
There have been reports of a "lock-down" at the agency, although the agency appeared to be in operation Tuesday.
CRI has been in-line for additional stimulus money from the West Virginia's Office of Equal Opportunity for several new programs that could assist families in the region.
Edward Harper, director of the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, told the Herald, "We will be looking at the overall health and status of CRI."
Sources close to the agency say that the investigation will include a review of CRI's application for additional stimulus funding, and that OEO officials will be looking at personnel issues.
Part of West Virginia's $37 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act weatherization monies has already been allocated to CRI.
Currently, CRI says it is in-line to receive more stimulus money for community projects, like Learn to Earn, Care for Clunkers, Labor Aid and Partnering to Provide.
CRI was the target of a major investigation by OEO in 2007, after which the executive director at the time resigned, after the review found 19 weaknesses.
CRI's board members have been trying to re-group the agency, so services can be delivered to West Virginia counties that have some of the neediest families, including older citizens.
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