Virginia’s Norton Industrial Development Authority Receives $3.5M to Develop Former Mine Site
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Vacant land which held historic mines will be turned into flat, developable land for new businesses and jobs thanks to a sizable grant.
The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy announced the Norton Development Authority received a $3.5 million grant. The money was part of $10 million received by the department to help identify abandoned mine sites that could be reclaimed in order to boost the economy of southwest Virginia.
It will be used to turn 200 acres of a historic mine into flat land that could bring in new businesses and jobs, according to a press release. An unstable wall will be removed in the process.
“This project has great potential for quite the economic boost in the coalfields,” Butch Lambert, DMME deputy director said in the release. “Removing the high wall left behind from historic mining automatically increases the value on this land. Our agency is excited to see what the future may hold once this site is developed.”
According to the project proposal, the site could hold three industrial buildings when it is developed. Broadband, road access, water lines, sewer lines, natural gas access and electric service would be phased in over future development projects.
Scott County also received a grant on Thursday to make environmental and safety improvements at the Devil’s Fork Loop Trail, a popular tourist attraction located in Duffield.
The county was given $88,302 Pilot Program grant which will be used improve the trail and close portals with bat gates to prevent access by humans but still allow a habitat for the bats, according to a press release.
“This site is already an economic treasure for the region,” Lambert said in the release. “Tourists will be able to safely access a rare site. In addition, this grant will help preserve the historic coal car left on site in hopes of visitors learning about the industry’s history in southwest Virginia.”
Improving the trail will coincide with construction of a new and larger parking lot. The grant money announced today will be used to construct a connector trail from the new parking lot to the Devil’s Fork Loop Trail.
The development projects were two of 15 proposals submitted to the department. Proposals were reviewed for eligibility and taken before an advisory council, which chose six projects to go to the Office of Surface Mining for approval.
The Pilot Program originated in a federal omnibus bill in 2017.
Source: Bristol Herald Courier
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