Most folks living in central Appalachia would agree that we need to create a new economy to counter the coal industry’s decline. But the question becomes how? Coalfields residents came together several years ago to propose the RECLAIM Act, federal legislation that would more rapidly release money from the $2.5 billion Abandoned Mine Lands Trust Fund for regional reclamation and redevelopment projects. In this story we hear from Eric Dixon, policy coordinator at Appalachian Citizens Law Center, and Adam Wells who directs Appalachian Voices’ New Economy Program from Norton VA. Both helped write a report that shares concrete examples and ideas for projects in four Appalachian states that could create new economic opportunities using AML pilot project funds and those from the RECLAIM Act if it is passed in Congress.