New Proposed Projects to Receive AMLER Funding

Article Presented By Litter Quality Propane…

(Columbus) – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Mineral Resources Management is announcing funding for several projects throughout Ohio. These projects, funded by the Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program, will address reclamation of abandoned mine lands and promote economic and environmental opportunities within historic coal mining communities.
 
Prior to the 1977 passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), no federal regulations requiring coal mine site reclamation existed. Today, national standards are in place intended to protect people and the environment from possible mining impacts.

A previous AMLER grant reclaimed nearly 30 acres of land, eliminating over 3,250 feet of dangerous highwalls, and transformed it into useable recreational park land at Friendship Park in Jefferson County.  

“These projects will contribute to local communities in several different ways, and it’s a bonus when these projects include expanding access to the great outdoors,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “Whether it is the creation of a new trail, building new outdoor recreation spaces, or upgrading historic buildings, the projects will all contribute to local communities in their own ways.”
 

The interior of the Tecumseh Theatre in Perry County. A previously announced $4 million dollar AMLER grant is funding both interior and exterior renovations, including the addition of an elevator.

 
Projects will benefit communities with abandoned coal mines and are wide ranging in scope, serving several counties, including Athens, Belmont, Columbiana, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Mahoning, Morgan, Noble, and Tuscarawas.
 
The AMLER program will include the following proposed projects:
 
Adena Trail and Visitor Center – Village of Adena

• Jefferson & Harrison County – $2,231,095
• The project will create a two-mile long recreational trail connecting Adena’s three community parks. The project includes native tree plantings, educational signage, bicycle racks and parking constructed at the trailhead. Part of the project includes rebuilding a visitor center from an 1890’s passenger train depot in its original location with the theme of local coal mining and railroad history.

Coaltivating Appalachia – Rising Appalachia

• Athens County – $1,708,300
• The two-phased project will reclaim, develop, and build upon the Sugar Creek Mill Mining shafts. This includes developing an activity and welcome center equipped with a farm-to-table café, a native fruit and nut processing facility. In addition to the center, the project includes expanding recreation to include lakes and trails, expanding the capacity of the summer camp, as well as expand the community programming and workforce development programs, and create new business opportunities.

Commerce Park Recreation & Entertainment Complex – Village of Bellaire

• Belmont County – $1,468,912
• This project seeks to expand the Commerce Park through construction of recreation complexes to increase tourism and economic development of the Ohio Valley Region. The key components include construction of an amphitheater venue, a tournament-ready pickleball complex, a walking trail, concessions, and restroom facilities.

D.O. Hall Business Center Site Improvement – Guernsey County Port Authority

• Guernsey County – $980,000
• The project will mitigate surface mining impacts on approximately 10-acres that are adjacent to a 128,000 square foot distribution facility improving the D.O. Business Center and making the site useable through pilings, cut and engineered fill, and deep dynamic compaction.

Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace & Defense – The Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI)

• Mahoning County – $1,200,000
• A multi-phased project to rehabilitate an existing facility with the goal of expanding YBI’s technology campus to meet the regions demands of the rapidly growing industry. AMLER funds will be used for architectural, engineering, and other preliminary activities to prepare the site for development. Building renovations will also be completed at the vacant facility. 

Dennison Depot Restoration Center, Locomotive and Platform Upgrades – Dennison Railroad Depot Museum

• Tuscarawas County – $1,690,000
• The project aims to increase the number of annual riders of the Polar Express Christmas Excursion in Dennison through various station upgrades to improve public safety, new facility construction, and a stream locomotive conversion. This project will serve to improve the connectedness of the community and increase tourism through Eastern Ohio’s coal region, revitalizing the Appalachian region of Ohio.

Noble Futures: Educating and Empowering for Tomorrow – Noble Master Plan Phase 1 – Noble Local School District (NLSD)

• Noble County – $2,450,000
• The Noble Master Plan is part of a larger, multi-year initiative to improve educational opportunities and economic prospects of the county. The AMLER portion of funding will provide essential water infrastructure to the school district that has recently acquired over 40 acres, creating many health and safety benefits. Also, funding will be utilized to purchase and install a specified capacity water tank storage, necessary booster pumps to fill the tank, and upgrades to the infrastructure system.

Norma Johnson Center Improvements – Tuscarawas County

• Tuscarawas County – $200,000
• The project includes rehabilitating two buildings with cultural and agricultural history. The Red Barn and Brandywine Center will see upgrades when it comes to safety, accessibility, and preservation of the facilities. Red Barn improvements will include adding accessible parking, exterior entry renovations, flooring, upgraded electrical, lighting, and fire systems. The Brandywine Center improvements include replacements of roof, septic systems, new signage. These indoor spaces will be available for utilization for not-to-profit entities, civic groups, community groups, or citizens for educational programming, enhancing tourism, community cohesion, and the economy of the county.

Outdoor YMCA – Ohio Valley YMCA

• Columbiana County – $2,600,000
• This three-phase project will convert unusable land into useable space that enhances the Outdoor YMCA’s facilities, infrastructure, and recreational opportunities. Key components of this project include addressing the many AML site features that pose health and environmental safety hazards. The land will then be used to create new hiking areas, outdoor recreation spaces, a zip-line, canopy-walk, expanded lodging, and renovations of existing housing structures.

Tablertown, From Coal Mine to Museum: A Black History Journey Renovations – Tablertown People of Color Museum

• Athens County – $500,000
• This project includes the construction of a 40×40 accessible exhibit hall.  The museum will act as a hub of interest and activity drawing individuals to Tablertown to explore the historic sites in the area, as well as the examine the connections between mining and the often-undiscussed history of people of color in this region of Southeast Ohio.

Twin City Opera House, Historic Theater Renovations – Village of McConnelsville

• Morgan County – $3,000,000
• Funding will be used to revitalize the 132-year-old Twin City Opera House to increase community engagement for events and stimulate commercial activity in the downtown center. This project will include stage enhancements, installation of elevator access to inaccessible floors, and installation of restroom facilities.

 
The funded portion of these projects are pending preliminary eligibility approval from the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) and projects will be carried out over a maximum of a three-year period.
 
Through addressing environmental, economic, and safety challenges resulting from abandoned mine lands, communities will be served; and job, tourism, recreational, and business opportunities will be improved, among other benefits.