Warner & Kaine Applaud Over $2.7 Million in Federal Funding to Boost Economic Development in Southwest Virginia

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine applauded $2,720,950 in federal funding to spur economic development across Southwest Virginia by helping more businesses access capital and upgrading outdoor recreation infrastructure. The funding was awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)’s Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative, which provides funding to help communities and regions that have been affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries.

“We’re glad this funding will help spur economic growth and create jobs in communities across Southwest Virginia,” said the senators. “We’re excited to see the impacts of these projects and will keep working to grow the region’s economy.”

The funding is distributed as follows:

• $1,499,850 for Appalachian Community Capital (ACC)’s Opportunity Appalachia’s Expanding Opportunity: Bringing New Investment to Underserved Coal Communities program. ACC and its seven partners will use this funding to provide technical assistance to 30 coal communities and businesses and 600 participants to help them gain access to new sources of capital. Specifically, the assistance will help Virginians develop high-impact projects to pitch to investors, such as investments in downtown development, manufacturing, IT, health care, education, food systems, clean energy, and tourism and recreation. This program is expected to create thousands of jobs in the Appalachian region. 
• $1,221,100 for the Big Cherry Regional Recreation Enhanced Infrastructure Project in Big Stone Gap, which will improve outdoor recreation infrastructure at Big Cherry Reservoir and boost the local economy. Specifically, the funding will be used to establish overnight lodging with tents, yurts, treehouses, and other camping options, and a general store for restrooms and supplies; improve existing hiking trails; develop new campsites with trailheads connecting to Big Cherry Reservoir; and install a 10,000 gallon water storage tank, 5,000 Gallon Per Day (GPD) wastewater treatment package plant, a water well, and electrical service connections to make overnight lodging and daytime visits more accessible to visitors.

Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to boost economic development in Southwest Virginia. The draft of the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bill, which the senators are working to pass, includes $200 million for ARC. Earlier this year, the senators announced nearly $500,000 in federal funding to kickstart a project to grow Appalachia’s non-timber forest product market. Warner and Kaine also announced nearly $670,000 in federal funding to improve community facilities and purchase equipment in rural communities across Virginia.

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