Federal funds are available for economic development projects in the state. The money is meant to help communities left with mining impacts from activity before 1977.
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Abandoned Mine Lands and Reclamation is accepting applications for a portion of $25 million in grant funding available for economic development projects.
To qualify, the projects need to be located on or adjacent to mine sites that ended operations prior to the signing of the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act in 1977.
A committee of representatives from the West Virginia DEP, Department of Commerce, and Division of Highways will review the applications.
Applications are due by September 1, and the committee will announce who will receive grant funding as early as mid-September.