West Virginia turning abandoned mines into economic development projects

West Virginia will make $30 million in federal grants available to support economic development projects at 10 abandoned mines throughout the state.

A committee comprising representatives from various government departments and offices, including the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation and Governor’s Office, recommended the sites based on competitive grant applications. Final approval comes from the Office of Surface Minin Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE).

Logan Resort and Recreation Center in Logan County would use $6.8 million to build a theme park, including a roller coaster, simulated coal mine and artifact display. The grant funds would also help expand surrounding trails.

Brooke County would use $4 million for West Virginia Farm Foods, LLC to construct a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) abattoir to process cattle from 7,000 farms in northern West Virginia.

Among the other recommended projects:

$3 million to the City of Thomas Water Improvement Project to replace water lines and rehabilitate three steel water tanks.
$2.9 million to Phase 2 of the Ashland Resort Tourism Park in McDowell County.
$2.9 million to the Cleanwater RU2 Process Project to install a patented water treatment technology in Kanawha County.

The funds are available through the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Abandoned Mine Lands Revitalization (AMLER) program, which has committed over $205 million in grant funding to assist projects across West Virginia since 2016. AMLER helps explore and implement strategies that return legacy coal mining sites into economic and community development initiatives.

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