$30 million in AML grants recommended
MOUNDSVILLE, WV (WVNS) — Ten Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program projects were recommended by Governor Justice for economic development at abandoned mine land sites in the state that will use almost $30 million in federal grand funds.
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The Governor’s Office, the West Virginia Department of Transportation, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and the West Virginia Department of Commerce assessed the grant applications, and final the final approval for the funds and projects will be decided by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE).
For projects to be able to qualify, they need to be on or alongside mine sites whose operations ended before August 3, 1977 when the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act was signed. The program committed to more than $205 million in grant funding since 2016 that went towards helping projects across coalfields in the Mountain State.
The total amount of funds recommended for the projects was $29,347,333.
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The ten projects include:
Mercer County
Liberty Station Lodge & Tavern – $2,421,968
Seeking to preserve the African American High School (AAHS) in Bramwell, the community economic business development and revitalization plan will help change the 14,000 square-foot building into a Lodge and Tavern with 14 rooms, multiple large parking lots, a large conference room, and upscale dining.
McDowell County
Ashland Resort Tourism Park (Phase 2) – $2,993,500
The project will build upon the existing development at Ashland Resort in McDowell County, to add retail stores, more cabins, entertainment venues, and roadways.
Kanawha County
Cleanwater RU2 Process Project – $2,950,000
The project will install patented water treatment technology and equipment to treat produced water from oil and gas wells, getting rid of the need for the injection of produced water into the ground, while also getting rid of any salt compounds in a marketable form to be resold.
Logan County
Chief Logan Resort and Recreation Center – $6,800,000
Next to the Chief Logan Resort State Park, this project includes authentic coal camp structures used for displaying mining and railroad artifacts, a themed simulated 3-D coal mine, Mountain Coaster, merchandise, and food concessions. The facility will also be a training hub for rented equipment to allow people who do not own ATVs to experience the Hatfield-McCoy Trails. Adding more walking and mountain bike trails in the current Chief Logan Park area are also planned.
Tucker County
City of Thomas Water Improvement Project – $3,000,000
The project includes rehabilitating three steel water tanks, replacing around 35,000 feet of the current water line, and replacing one booster pump station. A new telemetering system is planned to be added, as well as 360 new water meters, and constructing a new 350 Gallon-Per-Minute (gpm) water treatment plant.
Marion County
Baxter VFD Sports Park – $600,000
To develop around six acres next to the Baxter Volunteer Fire Department into a motorsports park that can hold large events like 4-wheeler and dirt bike races, tractor pulls, mud bogs, and other similar activities.
Ohio County
Wheeling Heritage Center – $2,011,172
This project will turn the existing Knights Inn property in Wheeling into an 80-room, economy hotel that will have a visitors center and a 47,000 square-foot museum.
Gravity Adventure Park – $2,163,954
Included in this project is the creation of world-class mountain bike trails near Clendenin.
Lewis County
Opal Smith Highwall and Roanoke Center Expansion – $2,406,739
The project will expand on the remote camping sites and water trail to Stonewall Resort State Park, as well as adding biking and hiking trails near the Opal Smith Highwall, and a swimming pool to complement development at the Roanoke Activity Center.
Brooke County
West Virginia Farm Foods, LLC – $4,000,000
A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) abattoir will be designed, built, and operated by West Virginia Farm Foods, LLC that will help process cattle from almost 7,000 farms across three regions in northern West Virginia.
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