Old Dominion News

RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin and Congressman Morgan Griffith announced today that grant dollars are now available to assist those looking to make an economic impact in Southwest Virginia. The Virginia Department of Energy (Virginia Energy) received a seventh round of funding for the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program. The agency is now taking applications for proposals.

“This funding is a direct path to job creation in Southwest Virginia,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “We are happy to report over 400 jobs have been supported since the AMLER program began in 2017 and we are excited to see what innovative ideas result from this next application process.”

“The AMLER Program, federal funding I championed, provides our communities in Southwest Virginia with opportunities to reuse old mine lands, contributing to job creation, economic growth and environmental renewal in the coalfields. I encourage all those who are eligible to apply for this new round of federal funding,” said Congressman Griffith.

Virginia Energy oversees the grant which comes from the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement (OSMRE). The OSMRE has final approval over recommended projects. Proposed projects should have the greatest potential to achieve economic develop goals in Southwest Virginia’s coalfields and be proposed on land that includes features associated with coal mining that occurred before 1977.

Virginia Energy will accept Letters of Intent through April 11, 2024 and receive applications through May 23, 2024. Applications and information can be found via the Virginia Energy website and should be submitted electronically to Virginia Energy’s AMLER program at AMLER@energy.virginia.gov.

“From industrial to community development, AMLER has made and continues to have a positive impact on the coalfield region,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “Projects are proving to be economic drivers and we commend those behind turning big ideas into dynamic developments.”

“AMLER is unique in that it has the potential to make land available to developers that once was not,” said Virginia Energy Director Glenn Davis. “Most of the projects chosen for this funding also reclaim problems left behind by historic coal mining. So, we get the economic piece, an improvement in public safety and an environmental gain all through one program.”

Virginia Energy received the initial AMLER funding in 2017 and has continued to receive funding every year since. Those looking for places to propose projects can find an AML inventory on the Virginia Energy website that lists locations and features for each site. Virginia was one of six states chosen to receive this funding to develop Abandoned Mine Land (AML) sites. This grant was part of the federal Omnibus Funding Bill.

Original source can be found here.