The Appalachian Regional Commission is spreading $26.5 million in awards to nine states, including Ohio, to assist struggling coal communities.
The commission says the money is projected to create or retain more than 5,400 jobs and leverage more than $193 million in private investments in those areas.
Four grants worth about 1.3 million dollars are coming to Ohio. Ohio University in Athens will receive $750,000 for a program to foster social enterprise activities in coal-impacted communities in Ohio and West Virginia.
A $350,000 grant goes to the Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation in South Point, Ohio.
There's a $78,000 grant for the Buckeye Hills Regional Council in Marietta, and a $30,000 grant to the Growth Partnership for Ashtabula in Jefferson, Ohio.