CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced at a Tuesday news conference $7.6 million dollars in federal funding to pay for job training and career services for dislocated mine workers.
The funding comes from an extension to a National Dislocated Worker Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.
“I think in households all across West Virginia, certainly in the southern part of West Virginia, it’s the subject of breakfast, lunch and dinner about what do we do now,” said State Secretary of Commerce Keith Burdette. “Coal has taken a huge hit, and mining jobs have dried up.”
The grant funding will provide tuition assistance up to $5,000, support on the job training positions and offer up to $100 a week for meals, travel and child care. After the governor spoke, two former coal miners Stanley Stewart and John Dunlap gave speeches on how the program had helped them.
“It’s an important transitional time that these guys can figure out that these programs work. That’s very important,” said President of the West Virginia Coal Association Bill Raney.
Burdette said the coal may recover some, but may not ever get back to the boom it once experienced.
“I never say never. I think we’re trying to adjust to what may be a new normal in the mining industry,” Burdette said. “What’s more important is, families can’t wait to find out what the world economy is going to do to them. They’ve got to be able to pay the mortgage, get their kids to school and pay the doctors and grocery bills.”
Raney didn’t know what the future of the coal industry would bring, but said the program would help for now. He remained adamant that coal is the best way for West Virginia’s economy to recover.
“We have the trained workforce, we’ve got the materials, we’ve got the best coal in the world, the best coal miners. And we can go to work tomorrow if we can get the market straightened out,” Raney said.
The grant was a continuation of $1.8 million provided in 2012 and $5.6 million in 2014 to WorkForce West Virginia to provide support for laid off miners. Miners spouses and children living at home will also be eligible.
Workers can learn more about the grant program and its offerings at workforcewv.org.