Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Projects

Slate Creek
Slate Creek/Levisa Fork Flood Damage Repair
Grant Recipient: Buchanan County Public Service Authority
2024 AMLER Funding = $1,151,367

AMLER funds will combine with other federal, state, and local funding to complete critical repairs and upgrades to flood-damaged wastewater infrastructure within and adjacent to the Levisa Fork and Slate Creek in the Grundy area of Buchanan County. This work will support existing needs and facilitate future business and community growth.

Real McCoy Cabins Expansion Picture
Project Intersection Phase VI - Second Access Road
City of Norton
Grant Recipient: Lonesome Pine Regional Industrial Facilities Authority
2023 Funds Awarded: $4,750,000

AMLER funds will be used to construct a new two-lane access road into the 200-acre Project Intersection industrial park, providing more direct entry from adjacent major highways and addressing traffic flow and volume constraints at the current entrance.

Real McCoy Cabins Expansion Picture
Cumberland Outdoor Access Legacy
Dickenson and Buchanan Counties
Grant Recipient: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
2023 Funds Awarded: $2,750,000

AMLER Funds will be used to secure a 12,901 acre public access easement for outdoor recreation on private land near the Breaks Interstate Park, Russell Fork, and Harmon. Funds will also be used to develop a trail that will link to Breaks Interstate Park property and construct a paddle craft boat launch on Russell Fork along with signage and access infrastructure.

Real McCoy Cabins Expansion Picture
Southern Gap Office Park Building
Buchanan County
Grant Recipient: Buchanan County IDA
2022 Funds Awarded: $1,950,000

AMLER funds will be used to address the growing demand for rentable commercial space and housing in Buchanan County through the construction of a two-story commercial building, providing approximately 8,000 square feet per floor. The design will also allow for the future addition of a third residential floor. The building will be located along the main street of the Regional Office Park in the heart of the Southern Gap Development. Serving as an anchor project, it is intended to attract further investment, support new business opportunities, and stimulate job creation within the Regional Office Park.

Real McCoy Cabins Expansion Picture
JJ Kelly Property Site Development
Wise County
Grant Recipient: Wise County Industrial Authority
2021 Funds Awarded: $1,838,850

AMLER Funds will be used to complete the initial steps towards redeveloping a 7.76 acre former high school complex where the school building was previously demolished. Work completed will be pavement and sidewalk demolition, earthwork, stormwater management, erosion and sediment control, seeding and other preparations that will make the site shovel ready for private prospects. The redevelopment seeks to attract housing builders that will help meet increased demand in the region.

Dante Community Picture
Big Cherry Regional Outdoor Recreation
Wise County
Grant Recipient: Town of Big Stone Gap
2021 Funds Awarded: $2,000,000

This project will develop outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the 3,253 acres of land surrounding Big Cherry Reservoir. It will include trail improvements, new campsites, cabins, luxury safari tents, a general store, enhanced lake access, and more. The project is necessary to meet high demand in the region for additional overnight use destinations, as other nearby parks offering overnight accommodations are quickly booked up with consistent waitlists. It is expected this project will greatly increase frequency and number of overnight visitors which will benefit local businesses as well.

Wise County IDA Solar Project Site Preparation Picture
Bird Dog
Dickenson County
Grant Recipient: Bird Dog Distributors, LLC
2021 Funds Awarded: $525,000.00

This project will upgrade two existing manufacturing machines and build two new machines to expand its plastics manufacturing business. These upgrades will allow for embedding additional materials into its plastic panels to create new product lines such as lightweight ballistic armor plating.

Wise County IDA Solar Project Site Preparation Picture
Maine Five Expansion
Buchanan County
Grant Recipient: Maine Five Distributors, LLC
2021 Funds Awarded: $500,000.00

This project will involve purchasing and installing automated sewing and cutting equipment that does not require employees with sewing experience. By mitigating the growth constraints due to the skilled labor shortage, Maine Five will be able to expand its manufacturing operations of tactical nylon items.

Dante Community Picture
Norton Light Industrial / Data Center Spec Building (Project Intersection V)
Wise County
Grant Recipient: Lonesome Pine Regional Industrial Facilities Authority (LPRIFA)
2021 Funds Awarded: $1,200,000

A 40,000 SF speculative building will be constructed on Project Intersection's site pad 1A, which will be the coalfield region's first designated "Spec Building" to be built to recruit and meet the rapid growth and demand for the targeted industry cluster of new Data Center operations. Concurrently, this same 40,000 SF Spec Building could be adapted to host light manufacturing as an alternate use if needed.

Wise County IDA Solar Project Site Preparation Picture
Buchanan Tazewell Wireless Communications Jobs Growth Corridor
Buchanan County
Grant Recipient: Virginia Coalfield Coalition
2019 Funds Awarded: $1,115,866

AMLER funds will be used in conjunction with several other funding sources to construct a series of cell towers to provide service through a 20-mile dead zone along U.S. Route 460, one of the most heavily traveled and economically important traffic corridors in the southwest Virginia coalfield region. The project will serve schools, more than two dozen businesses, approximately 131 households, and thousands of motorists each day.

Project Throughbred Picture
Project Throughbred
Wise County
Grant Recipient: Lonesome Pine Regional Industrial Facilities Authority
2019 Funds Awarded: $2,500,000

Project Thoroughbred will redevelop an AML site with an abandoned coal loadout facility, situated in the City of Norton, into a commercial / industrial site with rail access. AMLER program dollars are proposed for land acquisition, site development and environmental work, site work. The project will serve as an integral piece of a much larger economic development initiative for the entire Lonesome Pine Regional Industrial Facilities Authority (LPRIFA) region.

Red Onion Picture
Red Onion Industrial Site
Dickenson County
Grant Recipient: Dickenson County Industrial Development Authority
2019 Funds Awarded: $859,584

The project will combine AMLER funds with $1.7 million in other funding to develop a 99 acre site with redundant broadband fiber, infrastructure, and three pads totaling 47 acres. The site is located on the border of Dickenson and Wise Counties, in close proximity to U.S. 23, and the surrounding land has potential for renewable energy development opportunities.

Wise County IDA Solar Project Site Preparation Picture
SR 718 Utility Expansion
Buchanan County
Grant Recipient: Breaks Regional Airport Authority
2019 Funds Awarded: $1,220,016

This AMLER project will construct a first phase of utilities infrastructure (e.g. waterline and telecom conduit) along State Route 718 (Airport Road) towards the Breaks Regional Airport Expansion Project currently being developed by the Breaks Regional Airport Authority (BRAA), Town of Grundy, Buchanan County, and Dickenson County. In addition to upgrading services along SR718, this project will facilitate development of the airport and an associated industrial area.

Dante Community Picture
Dante Community Redevelopment Project
Russell County
Grant Recipient: Russell County
2018 Funds Awarded: $269,000

Dante is a historic coal camp with rows of houses, remains of a company store and other visual reminders of coal mining from years past. The Community Association wants to share the rich history with visitors. AMLER Program dollars would be used to build connector trails to historic sites in the town and create five miles of hiking trails and eight miles of ATV trail upgrades with connections to other trails. With plans for an ATV trail from St. Paul to Dante, the number of visitors is expected to increase.

Ecotourism Picture
Ecotourism in Nature's Wonderland
Buchanan County
Grant Recipient: Southwest Virginia Sportsmen, Inc.
2018 Funds Awarded: $2,254,750

Wildlife viewing and, eventually, hunting opportunities will become accessible to the public through the Ecotourism in Nature's Wonderland project. The grant dollars will be used to improve 350 acres of historic mined land resulting in an ecological and economic benefit to Buchanan County. The wildlife habitat will be managed by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources as part of thaeir elk reintroduction initiative and is expected to support a variety of game species.

Enhancing the Mountain View Trail System
Russell and Wise Counties
Grant Recipient: The Nature Conservancy
2018 Funds Awarded: $222,000

The Mountain View Trail system is an ATV trail that connects Coeburn and St. Paul, near the newly established Clinch River State Park. The trail covers about 2,500 acres of land that was once mined. It is part of a larger Spearhead Trails trail system which has a significant existing economic impact on the region. AMLER funds will be used to reclaim auger holes, improve stream crossings, and add amenities such as shelters.

Real McCoy Cabins Expansion Picture
Real McCoy Cabins Expansion
Tazewell County
Grant Recipient: Real McCoy Cabins
2017 Funds Awarded: $685,887.74

Real McCoy Cabins offer diverse lodging choices for adventure tourist, specifically ATV enthusiast with the town of Pocahontas being home to the Spearhead and Hatfield-McCoy AVT trails. AMLER money will be used for the expansion of Real McCoy Cabins with the addition of a large family/group style cabin, a bath house and an ATV wash station.