Gov. Reeves will work alongside ARC’s Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin and fellow Appalachian state governors to boost economic growth across the 13-state region.
Washington, D.C., January 5, 2026 – Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has been elected by his fellow Appalachian governors to serve as the 2026 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) States’ Co-Chair.
As part of ARC’s federal-state partnership structure, the States’ Co-Chair works collaboratively with the ARC Federal Co-Chair and fellow Appalachian state governors to invest in economic and community growth across the region’s 13 states and 423 counties. In addition to advancing ARC investments, the States’ Co-Chair also hosts ARC’s annual conference, which will take place on June 2-4, 2026, in Starkville, Mississippi.
Governor Reeves will serve as ARC’s 73rd States’ Co-Chair and the sixth Mississippi Governor to hold the position since 1965.
“Being chosen by my fellow governors to serve as ARC’s 2026 States’ Co-Chair is a tremendous honor. Mississippi has worked hard to strengthen our economy and expand opportunities for our people, and I’m proud of the progress we have made. As Co-Chair, I look forward to bringing that same commitment to our shared work across the Appalachian Region,” said ARC 2026 States’ Co-Chair, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves. “This year’s conference theme, Appalachia Builds: Breaking New Ground for Economic Growth, reflects exactly what our region and its people are doing – pushing forward, creating jobs, and opening doors for families and business. Together with Co-Chair Manchin and my colleagues, we will continue investing in communities to drive growth and deliver real results for all 423 Appalachian counties.”
“I congratulate Governor Tate Reeves, of Mississippi, on being selected by his fellow Appalachian Governors to serve as ARC’s 2026 States’ Co-Chair,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “I look forward to working and collaborating with him and all of our Appalachian governors as we continue working together to advance economic growth across the region’s 423 counties. In addition, I want to express my deep appreciation to Maryland Governor Wes Moore for his active involvement and service as the 2025 States’ Co-Chair.”
In fiscal year (FY) 2025, ARC invested $304.4 million in 640 economic development projects throughout the region, which attracted an additional $1.3 billion in private investments. ARC’s FY 2025 investments are projected to create or retain over 13,500 jobs and educate or train an estimated 37,096 students and workers for new opportunities in emerging sectors across Appalachia.
Learn more about ARC’s investment priorities in the region in FY 2025.
About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development entity of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 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.