ELKINS — Randolph, Barbour, Tucker and Pocahontas counties will be receiving significant federal funding payments — with Pocahontas set to receive almost $1 million.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has announced a total allocation of $3,868,229 from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program to 36 West Virginia counties.

These payments are made annually to help defray the costs associated with maintaining important community services.

Pocahontas County will receive the most of any of the 36 counties — a total of $980,052.

Randolph County will receive $639,431 in PILT funding.

Tucker County is set to receive $320,569 in federal funding.

Pocahontas and Randolph were the top two counties in terms of PILT funding to be received of the 36 listed. Tucker was fourth on the list, after Greenbrier County with $340,155.

Barbour County was one of the counties with the lowest funding total, at $3,337.

“For decades West Virginia counties have provided essential services on Forest Service and other public lands including law enforcement, education, firefighting, road maintenance and public health,” Manchin said. “This funding from the Department of the Interior is essential to ensure that local governments across the Mountain state can continue these needed services and also provide for the thousands of West Virginians in their communities.

“As Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee, I am glad to see the Department of the Interior continue their commitment to supporting West Virginia communities that have welcomed Interior into their counties,” Manchin said.