SUMMERS COUNTY W.Va. (WVDN) – To support community efforts to interpret, preserve and promote coal heritage resources, the National Coal Heritage Area Authority is seeking proposals for funding for eligible projects within the National Coal Heritage Area. Projects must be implemented within the following counties: Boone, Cabell, Fayette, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, Wyoming and the Paint Creek and Cabin Creek watersheds in Kanawha.
Applicants must have matching funds available for their projects. Project funding under this request must be matched dollar-for-dollar with other funds from non-federal funding or well-documented in-kind resources, such as donated materials and supplies, volunteer labor and services.
The National Coal Heritage Area management plan identifies interpretive themes for the area, which include: Business of Coal Mining, Work in Coal, The Company Town, Mining Technology and Crisis and Renewal. Each project must address at least one of the interpretive themes in some manner and could go across several thematic areas. Eligible activities for this round of grant funding include Interpretation and Heritage Programming, Historic Preservation and Resource Stewardship, Archives and Historical Records Collection, Greenways, Public Parks and Non-Motorized Trails and Educational Activities and Events.
Previous projects have included preservation of archival materials, planning for preservation of historic structures, creation of museum exhibits, development of trail head signage, brochure design and production, and marketing materials.
Organizations eligible for grant awards are legally established non-profit organizations and institutions, public and governmental organizations including county and municipal governments, state agencies, economic development authorities and educational institutions.
The first quarter applications for major and mini grants must be submitted by March 24, 2025. Future deadlines for mini-grant applications are June 23, 2025, September 15, 2025 and December 15, 2025. Major grant applications may vary from $5,001 to $30,000, while mini grant applicants may request up to $5,000.
For more information and grant instructions call 304-465-3720 or email lhawkins@coalheritage.org
