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CHARLESTON -- Two Tucker County projects will receive a total of more than $13 million in federal grant funding.
The Davis Center Headquarters Facility will receive $12.5 million, while the Tap Room Coworking Synergy Center & Apartments project in Thomas will receive $727,000.
Gov. Jim Justice and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Harold Ward announced the recommendation of six AML Economic Revitalization Program projects that will utilize nearly $26 million in federal grant funding for economic development at abandoned mine land sites across West Virginia.
The Davis Center Headquarters Facility funding will repurpose and revitalize existing structures in the Davis area for local residents and visitors to include multi-family dwellings, a community arts center, community shops, an outdoor amphitheater, office spaces, a bike park and trailhead connectivity to the existing trail system, a wellness center, and a STEM educational facility.
The Tap Room Coworking Synergy Center & Apartments, a multi-use, shovel-ready construction project, will provide decentralized, flexible workspace options to attract and retain remote workers, entrepreneurs, and freelancers. This facility will house a coworking and small business center with support services to foster economic growth and diversification, job creation and capital investment, as well as 10 "critically-needed" workforce housing units, officials said.
The WVDEP's Office of Abandoned Mine Lands and Reclamation administers the $25,966,183 in grant funding, which is provided by the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.
Grant applications were evaluated by a committee of representatives from the WVDEP, the West Virginia Department of Commerce, the West Virginia Department of Transportation, and the Governor's Office.
OSMRE must also give final approval of the projects and amounts awarded.
To qualify, the proposed economic development projects must be located on or adjacent to mine sites that ceased operations prior to the signing of the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act on August 3, 1977.
Since 2016, this program has committed over $180 million in grant funding to assist projects all across the West Virginia coalfields.
The other recommended projects include:
A total of $2,600,247 for the Mountwood Park Trail Center and Campground in Wood County;
A grant of $3,080,886 for the Cinderella Adventure Resort in Mingo County;
A total of $2,058,050 for the Range 1 Training Facility in McDowell County;
A total of $5 million for the Stonewood I-79 Development in Harrison County.