WHEELING, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice was in Wheeling Tuesday to present a grant that will help with the Wheeling Gateway project.

Justice was on hand at the former Wheeling Inn to present a $4.4 million grant expected to be the final key piece of funding for the project, which will include a brand new visitors center and new entrance to the city from the Interstate 70.

“This city is really on the move, and the more people we can get here, the more it’s going to happen,” Justice said. “This is a first of its kind and, with all of this, it will save us money and our people at the Department of Health, it will absolutely promote this city like you can’t. imagine.”

The Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization grant will also help create the Gateway Center, state welcome center, destination and cultural center for Wheeling.

Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Frank O’Brien says the project now has the funding it needs to move forward and he’s grateful for the governor’s help.

“Once (the old Wheeling Inn) is on the ground, probably by the end of December, it will be flat here and ready to talk about what’s next,” O’Brien said. “And somewhere in May we should be We’ll have the groundbreaking and we’ll have the money to build what we’re talking about.”

PREVIOUS REPORTS:Conceptual designs revealed for Wheeling Gateway Visitors and Heritage Center

Next comes the building design plan. It will include a rooftop restaurant, landscaping leading to the heritage trail and river access in hopes of creating a tourism hub. Additionally, for the first time in years, the suspension bridge will be fully visible from this location.

“For 150 years there has been some sort of structure blocking the bridge,” O’Brien said. “So for the first time, sometime in December, you’ll be able to see the bridge from Main Street and that’s never been possible. I haven’t been there in a long time.

Justice thinks this will encourage even more people to check out Wheeling.

“If we can bring people from the highways to the cities to see what West Virginia is really about, I mean, how can that do anything but good things,” Justice said.