A mining company is interested in locating in the Blacksburg area, according to sources familiar with the economic development project.

The company, which has yet to be identified, would employ about 50 workers. Another 300 workers would be needed for the construction phase.

The economic development project first came to light this past Thursday when Blacksburg Town Council voted unanimously to donate two acres of property to the company. The property was once used by the town for a wastewater treatment plant and is located off Highway 198 and Interstate 85.

The property donated by Blacksburg is located near a railroad trestle. There is no road frontage to the property.

The land donation will allow all properties used for the economic development project to be placed under one name. Blacksburg Mayor David Hogue said this will streamline the process involved in securing state and federal applications needed to get additional funding for the economic development project.

"We will retain water line rights-of-way and are working out other details," Hogue said. "Town council had received another offer recently to buy the 2-acre property. When the council found out about this multimillion dollar project, they wanted to be a part of it."

The company would be the second mining operation in the county. Vulcan Materials has operated a mine in the northern part of the county for decades.