Following completion of the Appalachian Regional Commission’s nine-month economic development training program, graduates bring new skills and vision to their work strengthening Appalachian communities.
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 24, 2024—The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is proud to announce that 40 fellows from Appalachia’s 13 states graduated from its Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI), a leadership and economic development program for the region’s public, private, and nonprofit leaders. Members of the Class of 2024 joined their friends and family, ARC staff, and other regional leaders at the ceremony today in Washington, D.C.
“My heartfelt congratulations to the Appalachian Leadership Institute Class of 2024! The hard work and dedication that they have put into the program over the last nine months will not only lead to personal and professional development for themselves, but also forward momentum for their communities,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “I have no doubt that this year’s fellows will utilize the skills learned during their time at ALI to help bolster the economic vitality of the entire Appalachian region.”
In the nine months prior to graduation, fellows traveled to six Appalachian communities around the region to attend sessions, which included skill-building seminars, peer-to-peer learning, case study analysis, and site visits to experience ARC investments in action. The curriculum is designed to equip fellows with the knowledge, ideas, and network needed to create positive change in their communities and strengthen the region’s economic opportunity.
These Appalachian leaders will take new skills and networks to continue serving their communities through civil service, healthcare, tourism, and a variety of other public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Additionally, graduates of the Appalachian Leadership Institute gain access to the Appalachian Leadership Institute Alumni Network, with more than 200 leaders that together help facilitate continued learning and idea exchange across Appalachia’s 13 states and 423 counties.
About the Appalachian Leadership Institute
The Appalachian Leadership Institute is a comprehensive regional leadership training program developed by the Appalachian Regional Commission in partnership with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; The Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy; Tuskegee University; and Collective Impact. The current class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute includes representatives from a variety of sectors and industries such as education, health care, economic development, public service, and other professions.
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.