WASHINGTON, D.C., July 13, 2021—The Appalachian Regional Commission invites proposals from organizations within the Appalachian Region, including non-profits, institutions of higher education, and other stakeholders, to work in partnership with ARC on the programming, curriculum development, and execution for the Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy (AEA). AEA helps high school students in the Appalachian Region strengthen their business and entrepreneurial thinking skills, in preparation for their role as the next generation of doers, thinkers, and leaders in the Region.
Submitted proposals should describe a strategy for developing a residential summer camp experience for approximately 26 high school students on a college campus in the Appalachian Region. Proposals should include, but not be limited to:
- Curriculum that focuses on entrepreneurial mindset development through hands-on learning and foundational and advanced-level skill training.
- Support and mentorship for students, enabling them to successfully understand and utilize all stages of the design process, from innovation, to development, to actualization.
- Extracurricular activities that highlight the Appalachian Region and build cohort camaraderie.
- Innovative methods that not only expose students to entrepreneurship, but also help them understand how they can use the knowledge and skills to make an impact on the future of Appalachia.
Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. ET, September 3 and should be submitted via a PDF copy as one document to academies@arc.gov.
About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission (www.arc.gov) is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.