West Virginia State University is among 15 historically black land-grant schools to receive economic development and business promotion grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas C. Dorr announced the grants Thursday.

West Virginia State received $100,000 from a total $1.5 million in grants that were awarded.

Rural Development state director Rick E. Rice says the university will continue to focus on small business training, specialty foods development, and agri-tourism/artisan development in Fayette, Greenbrier, Mason, McDowell, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Summers, Webster, and Wyoming counties.