Investments in Action

Every year, ARC investments support hundreds of economic development projects benefiting Appalachia’s 423 counties. Projects align with one of five goals outlined in our current Strategic Plan. The resulting investments ultimately help Appalachian communities address economic disparity and advance prosperity.

Explore stories from ARC projects and partners across the Appalachian Region.

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North Carolina

Buncombe

Land of Sky Regional Council: Expanding Recovery-to-Work Support Services in Western North Carolina

Asheville, North Carolina serves as a successful model for economic revitalization in Appalachia. Tourists from far and wide seek out its rich cultural history, outdoor recreation opportunities, culinary scene and much more. As a result, entrepreneurship and business growth has helped diversify its economy and create numerous employment opportunities for…
Tennessee

Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Morgan, Scott

Appalachian Tennessee: $1.1M Awarded to Build Recovery Ecosystems

ARC’s Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) awarded $11.5 million to 39 grantees working to address Appalachia’s substance use disorder crisis. Each project makes a unique contribution to local, state and regional recovery ecosystems, which are complex – but critically needed – webs connecting peer support, health and…
Virginia

Scott, Tazewell

Appalachian Sustainable Development: Laying the Groundwork for Recovery in Virginia 

It takes innovative thinking to address the substance use disorder crisis, which continues to disproportionately affect the Appalachian Region. How can communities grow support services and workforce opportunities for individuals in recovery? For Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) in Southwest Virginia, their answer is simple: local food.
West Virginia

Boone, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mingo

The REACH Initiative: Offering a Helping Hand to West Virginians in Recovery  

The journey through justice system involvement, recovery from substance use disorder and workforce re-entry is longer and more complex than most realize. Investing in partners, such as The REACH Initiative in Charleston, West Virginia, that make this process easier for Appalachians is a key part of…
Kentucky, Maryland

Connect Humanity: Accelerating Appalachian Broadband Access

Accelerator participants gather in Washington, D.C., in late 2023. Improving access to high-speed internet is vital for strengthening Appalachia’s economy. Fast, reliable broadband supports quality health care, education, tourism, business growth and so much more. Although Appalachians’ broadband access increased by 12 percentage points between 2017 and 2022, Appalachian…
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee

Industrial Commons: Going Green to Revitalize Southern Appalachian Textile Manufacturing 

ARC’s Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) is a funding opportunity driving large-scale, regional economic transformation through multi-state collaborative projects. Launched in 2022 using funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, ARISE is strengthening Appalachian businesses and industries, and supporting the development of new opportunities across…