U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) scored a major victory for the advancement of West Virginia's tourism industry Friday, securing $1.2 million in federal funds for southern West Virginia projects.

The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, the most heavily visited coal heritage-themed tourist destination in West Virginia with more than 50,000 annually, will receive $650,000 which will allow the City of Beckley to continue its progress on developing this important cultural facility. This is in addition to $1 million Rahall secured in August for the project.

"Beckley is strategically positioned at the transportation crossroads of southern West Virginia to serve as a gateway to other coal theme destinations along the Coal Heritage Trail and National Coal Heritage Area. Any improvements to this attraction will have far-reaching benefits for southern West Virginia for years to come," said Rep. Rahall.

Mayor Emmett S. Pugh of Beckley applauded Rahall's efforts.

"This is another stepping stone towards the construction of this important heritage project for southern West Virginia," Pugh said. "Thanks to the outstanding efforts of our Congressman, Nick Rahall, we are closer than we ever have been to making this the attraction we all know it can be."

In addition, an amount of $550,000 has been secured for the development of the Greenbrier Valley Welcome and Interpretive Center which will allow visitors an interface with the entire region via Greenbrier County's access to Interstate 64. The center, which will prominently display the rich history and culture of the Greenbrier Valley, will promote tourism all along the Greenbrier River watershed from the beginning of the river at Shaver's Fork in Durbin to Hinton, where the Greenbrier flows into the New River.

This regional project stands to increase visitorship across southern West Virginia and, in turn, provide a boon to the many small businesses and existing whitewater, skiing and sportsman attractions in the area. The project is under the leadership of the Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau, based in Lewisburg. Sharon Rowe, CVB president, expressed excitement over the news of additional funding and thanked Rahall for his efforts.

"The Greenbrier County CVB is delighted to embark on this new venture to create a Greenbrier Valley Welcome & Interpretive Center," Rowe said. "Tourism is vitally important to all of Southern West Virginia and continues to be an essential part of the state's economy. Now thanks to Congressman Rahall's tireless efforts and vision of regional cooperation, our area will continue to economically prosper."

Rahall calls the recent award a "wonderful way to cap a successful year for the three T's." The three T's-technology, tourism and transportation-are the cornerstones of the Congressman's agenda for economic prosperity in Southern West Virginia.

Earlier this year, Rahall, along with the leadership of Senator Byrd, helped secure tens of millions of dollars in federal investments for transportation projects in southern West Virginia, including the Beckley Intermodal Gateway, the Coalfields Expressway and the New River Parkway. And recently, Rahall has obtained millions of dollars in federal investment for technology centers in Lewisburg, Hinton and Beckley, as well as Concord University, to promote technology growth and job creation in southern West Virginia.

"The Three T's are crucial building blocks for our State," Rahall said. "I firmly believe promoting utilizing transportation, technology and tourism is the key to our economic prosperity," Rahall said.