Three Buchanan County projects moved forward Tuesday following loan and grant closing ceremonies which resulted in some $7.9 million being pumped into the University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy, the Appalachian School of Law and the Lover's Gap/Poplar Gap Regional Industrial Park.
   The funding came from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and included a $3 million loan to UACP for renovations at the Garden campus; a loan of up to $1,278,431 to ASL to be used to pay toward construction and costs associated with a portion of the new Booth Center to be built in conjunction with Southwest Virginia Community College on the ASL campus; and a grant of up to $3,623,516 for the Lover's Gap/Poplar Gap regional industrial park and multiple-use development project to be used for site development.
   "Granting these funding requests is another indication of the success the coalfield region is experiencing in planning for the future and continuing to diversify the economic base of southwest Virginia," said Jonathan Belcher, acting executive director of CEDA.
   The signing ceremonies were held at the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority office.
   Belcher noted the monies being awarded to the three projects Tuesday by CEDA marked the authority's continuing commitment to Buchanan County and the three projects.
   He noted that CEDA first approved monies for the UACP project in the form of $150,000 for equipment and furnishings and later to build out the space at the Buchanan Information Park where the college's Slate Creek campus is located. The $3 million loan awarded Tuesday will be used to provide assistance to the college and to complete renovations at the college's Garden campus which are now underway. Belcher noted it was his understanding those funds have been matched by private donors.
   The $1.27 million approved for the ASL project, Belcher noted, will allow for expansions on the ASL campus and he pointed out CEDA has also supported the law school in the past in the way of a $1 million allocation for the initial project development and later $600,000 for the law library.
   The new $3.62 million for the Lover's Gap/Poplar Gap project, Belcher said, marks the second time CEDA has allocated funding for it. Previously, CEDA gave $1.08 million toward the project. Some of the funding awarded Tuesday comes from a regional industrial park program and some comes from Buchanan County's CEDA account.
    Buchanan County IDA Chairman Jay Rife, who also serves as vice chairman of the CEDA board, thanked Belcher for bringing the money to Buchanan County.
    "I think this shows how important CEDA is to this part of the state," Rife said.