Grants totaling $9.2 million are going to 21 West Virginia communities to remove abandoned and dilapidated structures, officials said.

The funds will be given as reimbursement for demolition projects and qualified associated expenses, Gov. Jim Justice's office said in a news release.

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's newly established Reclamation of Abandoned and Dilapidated Properties Program will administer the funds, the release said.

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY FRAT CLEARED OF HAZING ALLEGATIONS, SANCTIONED SEPARATELY ON OTHER VIOLATIONS

Justice and the department held an event Friday in Matoaka to announce the funding.

Morgantown, Beckley, Charleston news

Grants totaling $9.2 million were awarded to West Virginia programs to demolish abandoned buildings in the state.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AWARDED $7.9 MILLION TO FUND WEST VIRGINIA PROGRAMS

"West Virginia is becoming the diamond in the rough and people are noticing," Justice said. "Let’s get rid of these buildings that are holding us back, join hands in moving our state in the right direction, and let’s start right here in Matoaka."

Funding for the initial phase was transferred from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, Justice's office said.

WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY BRIDGE WILL BE INSTALLED NEXT WEEK

Locations selected are Bluefield, Buckhannon, Clendenin, Elkins, Hinton, Logan County, Mannington, McDowell County, Mercer County, Montgomery, Nitro, Oak Hill, Parkersburg, Parsons, Princeton, St. Albans, Salem, Smithers, Thomas, Wellsburg and Weston.