Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced April 24 the approval in grant funding of over $5 million for displaced mine workers.

Tomblin said WorkForce West Virginia will receive supplemental funding in the amount of $ 5,639,376 in National Emergency Grant (NEG) funds from the U. S. Department of Labor to continue providing services to workers affected by layoffs and mine closures occurring within West Virginia's coal mining industry.

Patriot Coal was not specifically named. The supplemental funding is in addition to the $1.8 million allotted to serve displaced mine workers in 2012.

"Layoffs and mine closures are frustrating for our miners and their families - they depend on their jobs to keep food on the table and a roof overhead," Tomblin said. "This additional funding, combined with the original grant award, will allow us to provide re-employment services and job training opportunities to 700 mine workers.

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