State Denied of Federal Money for Coalfields

West Virgin has been denied $140 million in federal money to help the struggling southern coalfields.

In a news release Thursday, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said he was disappointed in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s decision to reject the application.

Tomblin mentioned the National Disaster Resilience Competition money during his State of the State earlier this month. It would have helped rebuild infrastructure and other needs in six coalfield counties.

The rejection letter said applicants requested more than $7 billion in funding but only $1 billion was available.

Tomblin said the federal government has taken few actions to fulfill promises to devastated coal communities.

He said the state is continuing plans to develop a massive industrial site on a reclaimed surface mine in Boone and Lincoln counties.