Press Releases

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) joined officials from the Virginia Division of Mines, Minerals, and Energy today to announce a $3.5 million project in the City of Norton to reclaim abandoned mine land and create a 200-acre industrial park. The industrial park is a part of regional cooperation in the Lonesome Pine Regional Industrial Facilities Authority (RIFA), consisting of the City of Norton and the Counties of Lee, Scott, Wise, and Dickenson. Griffith issued the following statement:

“The cleanup of damaged and abandoned land presents great opportunities for economic development and community improvement. Securing funding for reclamation projects has been a priority of mine in the House of Representatives. The Lonesome Pine RIFA now will be able to use these funds to redevelop land for an industrial site, offering the promise of new jobs and economic possibilities.”

Background

Griffith has secured an additional $20 million for a pilot program to fund abandoned mine land reclamation in Virginia with a specific focus on economic development. The project announced today in Norton provides $3.5 million to the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Norton to improve a site for the creation of up to 200 acres of industrial property, which is one of the Lonesome Pine RIFA projects.

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