In connection with the amendment, the lead equity investors in the Company, including Metalmark Capital, Wells Fargo and Prudential, have agreed to make an incremental equity contribution to the Company of $65 million to help fund capital expenditures for drilling and well completion as well as the acquisition of land leases.

Northeast Natural Energy’s President and CEO Mike John acknowledged that “our team is very grateful for the confidence shown by our investors and lenders in expanding and extending their financial support of the Company.”

Greg Myers, Partner at Metalmark Capital, stated “Mike John and the management team at NNE have done an amazing job at navigating the challenges of the commodity price decline with a relentless focus on costs and well level economics. The Company has grown substantially in recent years to having over 100 wells online with nearly 400mcfd of gross production and is well capitalized by its lenders and equity investors to continue its growth trajectory from this point forward.”

“Kroger is pleased our associates have ratified the contract and recognized our continued investment in their success,” said Paula Ginnett, president of the Kroger Mid-Atlantic division. “This contract provides wage increases for every associate while keeping associate weekly contributions for health care benefits the same through 2021. This is affirmation of our commitment to providing a competitive total benefits package for our associates. I appreciate our associates for supporting this agreement and for the excellent service they provide our customers every day.”

The Mid-Atlantic division agreement with The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 400 includes a more than $20 million wage investment and nearly $100 million investment that maintains exceptional health care benefits.

This agreement covers more than 4,200 associates in West Virginia and surrounding areas.

Fanti Group is an Italian industrial group, founded in 1948, specializing in packaging, owned by the Fanti family. The group has an aggregate revenue of 120 million euro, operates several plants in Italy along with several production and commercial entities in Europe, Russia, and Africa that manufacture more than 100 million metal cans every year.

“My father Giorgio Fanti, founder of Fanti Group, visited this area in the United States for the first time in the 70’s to see how U.S. manufacturers worked and to see if it was possible to buy some steel,” said Stefano Fanti, Chairman of Fanti Packaging. “I was a kid at that time, but I still remember when he left home ‘per l’America’ and when he returned to Italy after a long business trip bringing lots of ‘strange’ presents and toys. Now, after 50 years, I am glad to achieve my father’s American dream by starting a production plant in the United States. Our U.S. entity will be established in Weirton, West Virginia, and it will be legally owned by our main company located in Bologna, Italy, that has the name of my father.”

West Virginia was one of three states in consideration for the company’s expansion into the United States.

“Fanti USA will be the largest expansion in the history of the Fanti Group,” said Nicola De Santis – CFO, M&A, Business Development, Board Member of Fanti Group. “In West Virginia, we found the right place to expand. We studied the market, the supply chain, and the potential locations intensively. We traveled extensively before the COVID limitations and met a lot of people across the United States. Here in West Virginia we plan to initially create 20 jobs and to grow to 40-50 jobs after 3-4 years. One of the main reasons we have chosen West Virginia is because of the great support from the Governor’s Office and the West Virginia Development Office. Their great assistance to develop our project made our decision easy.”

Gruppo Fanti’s leadership team visited West Virginia in early 2019 as part of their due diligence in finding their U.S. expansion site.

“While we competed with Pennsylvania and Ohio for this new plant, our state’s pro-business climate, made possible by the business experience and incredible leadership of Governor Justice, along with our manufacturing base and an incredible workforce helped us prevail in the end,” said West Virginia Secretary of Commerce Ed Gaunch.

“Weirton has a long history with manufacturing,” said West Virginia State Senator Ryan Weld. “The loss of Weirton Steel was obviously a huge blow to the area. But since then, Weirton has been adding bricks to the wall of Weirton’s comeback and Weirton’s future: Pietro Fiorentini, Bidell, and now Fanti Group.

“I’d like to think everybody’s leadership for coming together and putting this new brick in place.”

The company is modifying an existing site in Weirton and plans to start production in Q2 of 2022.

“West Virginia, and particularly the Northern Panhandle, is noted for its industrial background, cooperative spirit, and dedication to get things done. Gruppo Fanti’s decision to locate their new plant in Weirton is the result of those traits,” said Marvin Six, executive director of the Business Development Corporation of the Northern Panhandle. “We worked closely with the West Virginia Development Office, State Auditor’s office, and the Brooke County Commission over the last eight months to demonstrate our strengths. Gruppo Fanti’s investment in our area illustrates the confidence international companies have locating their plants here.”

“This is nothing but a giant team effort,” Gov. Justice said. “You’ll find that West Virginia is really, really on the move and West Virginia has now become the diamond in the rough that everybody missed.

“The biggest thing that I need to do is in someway convey to you our level of appreciation and our level of support,” Gov. Justice continued. “We will always be there for you, and I believe we’re going to have an incredible relationship.”

“We have been blessed with great teamwork and talented new hires who are able to leverage federal and private sector investments,” said Belcher, a Concord University graduate who grew up in Welch. “We are on the cusp of taking our proactive economic and community development to the next level,” she said.

“How incredibly forward thinking that, 32 years ago, regional partners from Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers counties sat around a table and developed the first, and still largest, regional economic development authority in the state of West Virginia,” said Belcher. “I’m thrilled to continue the last three decades of regional impact across the New River Gorge region. Moving forward, NRGRDA will continue to focus on new company recruitment, business retention and expansion, and business and entrepreneurship support. NRGRDA is proud of its WV Hive program that has created more than 150 new jobs since its creation in 2016, and out of the proven needs, created the Country Roads Angel Network, that strives to connect thriving businesses with anetwork of angel investors that are ready to invest in West Virginia businesses. These programs are an integral part of the work NRGRDA is committed to across the region.”

After starting her own business at 16 years of age, Belcher was the first high school junior to ever receive the McKelvey Foundation Entrepreneurial Scholarship. After graduating from Concord University in 2009 with a B.S. in Recreation and Tourism Management with an emphasis in Event Planning and Promotions, Belcher returned to Welch to assist her family in expanding the only non-profit food pantry in McDowell County. While there, she served as Trust Systems Administrator for seven years at MCNB Bank and Trust Company.

In 2016, Belcher joined the Coalfield Development Corporation. As Chief Business Officer, Belcher worked closely with those in government, the private sector and entrepreneurs to strengthen social enterprises across Appalachia. While there, Belcher’s work in capital access and small business development organically crossed paths with NRGRDA.

In February 2019, Belcher became NRGRDA’s Director of Business Development and later transitioned into the role of Deputy Director in early 2020. Combining her previous community development skills with her background in finance and social enterprise allowed her to provide the New River Gorge region with resources and expertise needed to grow the thriving economy of Southern West Virginia. On October 19, the NRGRDA board named Belcher interim Executive Director to take the reins of the organization effective December 2020.

During the briefing, Gov. Justice announced that, at his direction, West Virginia Insurance Commissioner Jim Doddrill has approved $43 million in premium credits on all small and large group healthcare plans of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in West Virginia.

The credit will help nearly 3,000 small and large West Virginia businesses with the cost of offering group healthcare plans in the midst of the ongoing pandemic.

“This approval will enable Highmark to provide each of its small and large commercial group policy holders a one-time credit in consideration of the difficulties experienced by West Virginia businesses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gov. Justice said. “This is really good stuff for a whole lot of businesses and great West Virginian workers.”

The Governor added that the total insurance premium relief that has been implemented for West Virginia consumers and businesses due to COVID-19 is now more than $140 million.

Since its creation in 2017, ABC has helped hundreds of people in distressed counties learn how to raise bees, harvest honey and sell their products in an environmentally responsible way. Terri J. Giles, a former U.S. Senate aide and foundation executive who returned home to West Virginia for this venture, has been involved from the ground up and seen the multiple benefits of this social economic initiative.

The ABCHoney.org website features a selection of natural honey in addition to products from partners Benko Glass, J.D. Dickinson Salt, Walter Hyleck pottery, and Rishi teas.

“When you shop with us, you support beekeepers, bees and environmental programs that help restore ecosystems in Central Appalachia,” said Giles. “Each hive we support can generate 40-60 pounds of honey for sale each year. All proceeds are invested back into the Appalachian Beekeeping Collective to expand our geographic reach, assisting more people, communities and the environment.”

Giles indicated that Central Appalachia is an ideal location for natural beekeeping and honey produced from this region is distinct from other brands. “The abundance of diverse forest and undeveloped land in our region helps keep our bees healthy,” she said. “Our native Appalachian forests host an abundance of nectar-rich species such as tulip poplar, black locust, sourwood, and wildflowers. Most agricultural land is devoted to livestock, meaning that much of the area is covered is excellent bee forage, like clover. We have minimal agricultural crops to contribute to the range of synthetic chemicals other bees often endure.”

“What started out as an initiative to reclaim abandoned coal mine lands, restore native plants and protect pollinators has also grown into a thriving jobs program in West Virginia and Virginia that is producing natural honey that is free from pesticides and pollution,” said Giles, a native of nearby Hinton where the honey processing and a STEM education camp for youth is based.

West Virginia TARTP grants help towns and cities build and improve sidewalks, lighting, trails, and more. The program is administered by the West Virginia Department of Transportation and funded by the Federal Highway Administration.

Earlier this year, Gov. Justice presented another round of 38 TARTP grants,worth over $7.4 million, for additional projects in 27 counties.

In total, Gov. Justice has awarded over $16 million TARTP grants this year alone to communities all across West Virginia.

The projects awarded include:

BARBOUR COUNTY
Audra State Park
$150,000
Alum Cave Overlook: Design and construction of boardwalk and overlook on existing hiking trail within Audra State Park.

BERKELEY COUNTY
Berkeley County Roundhouse Authority
$742,889
Martinsburg Roundhouse Project: Construction of Martinsburg Roundhouse and Machine Shop ADA bathrooms and fire suppression system.

City of Martinsburg
$100,000
Martinsburg North Queen Street Streetscape Project Phase 3: Design of approximately 1,675 linear feet of ADA compliant sidewalks, curb ramps, and lighting on North Queen Street.

FAYETTE COUNTY
Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority
$150,000
Fayette County Trail System Project: Construction of approximately 75 miles of new trail within the Rimfire Trail System.

GILMER COUNTY
City of Glenville
$90,000
Glenville Sidewalk Rehabilitation Project: Construction of replacement sidewalk and ADA handrails along North Court Street in Glenville.

GREENBRIER COUNTY
Town of Rainelle
$500,000
Rainelle Main Street Streetscape Project Phase 2: Design and construction of sidewalk replacement in downtown Rainelle.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY
Town of Romney
$100,000
Romney North High Street Sidewalk Improvements Project: Design of sidewalk replacement in downtown Romney.

HARRISON COUNTY
City of Bridgeport
$600,000
Bridgeport Community Connectivity Trail Project: Construction of approximately two miles of hiking/biking trail in Bridgeport.

City of Salem
$250,000
Salem Sidewalk Project: Design and construction of sidewalk replacement in downtown Salem.

JEFFERSON COUNTY
City of Charles Town
$700,000
Charles Town Augustine Trail Project Phase 2: Construction of approximately 1.1 miles of hiking/biking trail facilities.

Corporation of Shepherdstown
$500,000
Shepherdstown Path Project: Construction of approximately 0.5 miles of walking path along the west side of Route 480 in Shepherdstown.

KANAWHA COUNTY
Kanawha County Commission
$187,500
Elk River Rail Trail Clendenin Trailhead: Design and construction of the Clendenin trailhead along the Elk River Rail Trail.

Town of Marmet
$50,000
Marmet Lens Creek Road Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project: Design of pedestrian path to connect the Town and school to Kroger.

LINCOLN COUNTY
Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority
$100,000
Ivy Branch Trail System Maintenance Project: Maintenance on approximately 80 miles of existing motorized trail within the Ivy Branch Trail system.

MARION COUNTY
City of Pleasant Valley
$162,000
Pleasant Valley Sidewalk Project Phase 4: Construction of sidewalk, drainage, curb, gutter, and sidewalk south of Landing Lane along Pleasant Valley Road.

City of Pleasant Valley
$185,000
Pleasant Valley Sidewalk Project Phase 5: Construction of sidewalk, drainage, curb, gutter, and sidewalk on Tulip Lane along pleasant Valley Road.

MCDOWELL COUNTY
Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority
$100,000
Warrior Trail System Maintenance Project: Maintenance on approximately 100 miles of existing motorized trail within the Warrior Trail system.

Town of Bradshaw
$40,000
Bradshaw Sidewalks Project: Construction of replacement sidewalks in the Town of Bradshaw.

Town of Iaeger
$75,000
Iaeger Sidewalk Repair and Rehabilitation Project: Construction of replacement sidewalks in Iaeger.

MERCER COUNTY
Town of Athens
$46,875
Athens Sidewalk Project: Design of replacement sidewalks within the Town of Athens.

MONONGALIA COUNTY
City of Morgantown
$480,000
Morgantown Pleasant Street Streetscape Project: Construction of ADA compliant sidewalks and lighting on Pleasant Street in Morgantown.

City of Morgantown
$100,000
Morgantown Municipal Airport Streetscape Project: Design of new ADA compliant sidewalks on Hart Field Road and ADA compliant sidewalk connection from terminal to administration building.

MORGAN COUNTY
Town of Bath
$93,750
Bath Streetscape Design 2 Project: Design of ADA compliant sidewalks on the east side of South Washington Street and Wilkes Street.

Cacapon Resort State Park Foundation
$150,000
Cacapon State Park Mountain Bike Uphill Trail To Mountain Top Project: Construction of approximately five miles of bike trail within Cacapon State Park.

NICHOLAS COUNTY
City of Richwood
$400,000
Richwood City Sidewalks Project: Construction of replacement sidewalks on the North Side of downtown Richwood.

City of Summersville
$63,000
Summersville Webster Road Sidewalk Improvements Project: Design of new sidewalk along the west side of Webster Road in Summersville.
OHIO COUNTYVillage of Bethlehem$50,000Village of Bethlehem Community Park Trail Project: Design and construction of approximately 1,000 feet of hiking trail within the Village of Bethlehem Community Park.
City of Wheeling$240,864Wheeling Robrecht Riverfront Park Project: Design of 0.46 miles of pedestrian and trail facilities at the Riverfront Park.
Wheeling Park Commission$152,000Oglebay Trails Maintenance & Repair Project: Design and construction of repairs and maintenance to existing hiking trails within Oglebay Park.
POCAHONTAS COUNTY
U.S. Forest Service / Pocahontas Trails – Monongahela National Forest
$187,500
Cheat Mountain South Mower – Snowshoe Connector Project: Construction of approximately six miles of bike and hiking trail and six miles of connecting trail between Snowshoe and the Monongahela National Forest.

PRESTON COUNTY
Town of Bruceton Mills
$50,000
Bruceton Mills Sidewalk Project: Design of replacement sidewalks along Union Street in the Town of Bruceton Mills.

PUTNAM COUNTY
Town of Buffalo
$75,000
Buffalo Sidewalk Project: Design of ADA sidewalk on Main Street from Buffalo High to Elm Road.

Town of Eleanor
$75,000
Eleanor Park Sidewalk Extension Project: Design of new sidewalks in Eleanor park, pool, and fairgrounds.

City of Winfield
$125,000
Winfield Sidewalk System Project: Design of sidewalks within the City of Winfield.

RANDOLPH COUNTY
Monongalia National Forest
$187,500
Cheat Mountain North Mower Phase 2: Construction of approximately six miles of bike and hiking trail near Cheat Bridge within the Monongahela National Forest.

RITCHIE COUNTY
Town of Harrisville
$100,000
Harrisville Sidewalk Improvements Project Phase 4: Design of approximately 2,355 linear feet of sidewalk along Main Street in Harrisville.

SUMMERS COUNTY
City of Hinton
$40,000
Hinton Sidewalk Project: Design of sidewalks within the City of Hinton.

TUCKER COUNTYCity of Parsons$180,500Corricks Ford Battlefield Park Development Project: Construction of new hiking and bike trail and access points to the Allegheny Highlands Trail.
City of Thomas
$110,000
Thomas Riverfront Bridge Project: Construction of pedestrian/biking bridge in Thomas.

Friends of Blackwater
$125,000
Blackwater Loop Trail Improvements and Interpretive Signage: Design and construction of trailheads in Davis City Park and Blackwater Falls State Park both along the eight miles of Blackwater Loop Trail.

UPSHUR COUNTY
City of Buckhannon
$240,785
Buckhannon Elizabeth J. “Binky” Poundstone Riverwalk Trail #4 Project: Construction of approximately 1,930 feet of ADA accessible asphalt hiking and biking trail.

WAYNE COUNTY
Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority
$100,000
East Lynn Trail System Maintenance Project: Maintenance on approximately 80 miles of existing motorized trail within the East Lynn Trail system.
WETZEL COUNTYCity of New Martinsville$11,590New Martinsville Bike Path Extension Project: Design of an extension of the New Martinsville Bike Path.
WIRT COUNTY
Town of Elizabeth
$182,000
Elizabeth Sidewalk Improvements Project Phase 5: Design and construction of 920 linear feet of replacement sidewalk along School Street and Franklin Street in Elizabeth.

WOOD COUNTY
City of Parkersburg
$100,000
Parkersburg St. Mary’s/Dudley Ave. Streetscape Enhancement Project: Design of streetscape enhancement on the St. Mary’s/Dudley Avenue Corridor.

City of Pennsboro
$100,000
Pennsboro Sidewalk Improvements Project Phase 2: Construction of approximately 1,000 linear feet of sidewalk along Mountain Drive.

City of Williamstown
$100,000
Williamstown Sidewalk Improvements Project Phase 3: Design and construction of replacement sidewalks along the street surrounding the new Williamstown Elementary School. ​
——————–
Click to view projects by region:

• North Central West Virginia: $3.0 million for 15 projects
• Eastern Panhandle: $2.3 million for seven projects
• Metro Valley: $1.6 million for 12 projects
• Northern Panhandle: $454,000 for four projects
• Southern Coalfields: $389,000 for five projects
• Town of Rainelle: $500,000 for one project
• Wood County: $300,000 for three projects

“The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is warning the public to be on the lookout for these products. If you suspect you have purchased tainted goods, we encourage consumers to return those products to the retail store they purchased it from or discard the product,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt.

The best by date of the bottle is located on the side of the bottle cap. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product smelled like cleaning agent.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 540-721-2045 or the West Virginia Department of Agriculture at 304-558-2227.

Affected products include:

A2A2 2% half gallon; Creamline Whole Milk half gallon; Homogenized Whole Milk half gallon; Homogenized Whole Milk quart; 2% Half gallon; 2% Milk quart; Non-Fat Creamline Milk half gallon; Non-Fat Creamline Milk quart; Chocolate Milk half gallon; Chocolate Milk quart; Orange Cream Milk quart; Orange Cream Milk quart; Cowpuccino Milk quart; Heavy Cream quart; Half and Half quart; Buttermilk quart; Lemonade half gallon; Eggnog quart returnable bottle; Old Fashioned Custard returnable quart bottle; Eggnog half gallon returnable bottle; Eggnog quart returnable bottle; and Old Fashioned Custard nonreturnable bottle.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials who sits on the Board of Public Works.

The Mammoth Preserve in Kanawha County will offer mountain biking, hiking trails and other amenities. A coalition of environmental groups sued the Alpha Natural Resources mining company more than 10 years ago over selenium discharge that contaminated nearby waters.

Cindy Rank is the chair of the mining committee at the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, one of the groups involved in the court case. She said Alpha agreed to transfer the land to correct the pollution problems.

“I just hope that people see these as positive outcomes of what are normally seen as negative actions, like taking people to court or even suing them,” said Rank. “And sometimes there are good things that come out.”

The 5,000-acre plot of land is part of the old Cannelton mines and is being developed by the West Virginia Land Trust and the Appalachian Headwaters. The Trust will manage the preserve for wildlife habitat, water protection and recreation access.

Rank said the preserve represents a new approach to restoring land polluted by former coal mines. She pointed out that in the past, mines would be abandoned and the land left deserted without a way for new growth to return.

Now the Trust will dig up the area and plant new vegetation.

“This is returning pre-mined land to some of the healthier hardwood forests that have existed in that area before,” said Rank. “And in turn, that improvement in the reclamation also improves the drainage, and that helps the water and the streams in the area.”

Rank said the site will be a boost for the local tourism industry. In the future, she said, West Virginians in the area won’t have to drive for hours to hike and bike and enjoy nature.

Humanities Council minigrants support projects that request $1,500 or less, including small projects, single events, lectures, small museum exhibits, brochures, consultation needs, and planning for more complex projects. The Humanities Council offers minigrants four times per year to support educational programming in the humanities.

For more information about the West Virginia Humanities Council grants program contact grants administrator Erin Riebe at (304) 346-8500 or via email at riebe@wvhumanities.org. Grant guidelines and applications are available on the Humanities Council website, www.wvhumanities.org.

The West Virginia Humanities Council, an independent nonpartisan nonprofit, is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.