The Department of the Interior announced $130 million in funding for fiscal year 2025 through the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program. This program aims to transform old coal mining sites into centers of economic activity.
The funds will support job creation, infrastructure projects, and new energy opportunities in communities with a history of coal mining. States and tribes will choose projects that meet local needs and produce real economic benefits.
Acting Assistant Secretary Adam Suess said, “Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Burgum’s leadership, these investments are turning abandoned mine lands into places of opportunity, innovation, and jobs. We are proud to help states and tribes put these lands back to work for Americans.”
The 2025 funding is distributed as follows:
- $28.67 million each for Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
- $11 million each for Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia
- $3.67 million each for the Crow Tribe, Hopi Tribe, and Navajo Nation
Eligible states and tribes will work with local partners to select projects that have strong economic impact. These projects include energy infrastructure, manufacturing, recreation, and commercial redevelopment.
The program supports the Trump administration’s goals of American energy leadership, strategic land use, and rural economic revitalization. It also addresses hazards from old mining sites, such as unstable land, mine fires, and polluted water, while unlocking new economic opportunities.
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