On September 30, 2020, P.L. 116-159 was signed into law by President Trump to implement a Continuing Resolution funding all Federal agencies at the same rate as Fiscal Year 2020.  Under this legislation, ARC will be operating at an annual budget of $175 million through December 11,2020. The law also…

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 30, 2020—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced 40 Fellows who will be participating in the second class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute. The class draws on each one of Appalachia’s 13 states and includes professionals who live and/or work in the Region in civil…

On September 22, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the operations of government, including ARC, through December 11, 2020. ARC will be operating on FY 2020 budget levels through the duration of the CR. The Bill also extended Congressional authorization of ARC through September 30,…

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 22, 2020—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) opened the Appalachia Nonprofit Resource Center, a virtual training hub to help the Region’s nonprofits successfully navigate the COVID crisis. As part of the Center’s programming, teams from Regional nonprofits are invited…

POTTER TOWNSHIP, PA, September 21, 2020—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Advanced Welding Workforce Initiative (AWWI). This RFP is the result of a new partnership between ARC…

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 3, 2020—Today, in recognition of National Recovery Month, the Appalachian Regional Commission issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for INvestments Supporting Partnerships In Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE), a $10 million initiative to address the Region’s substance abuse crisis by creating or expanding a recovery ecosystem…

On July 31, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the FY21 Energy & Water Development Appropriations bill which includes $175 million for ARC. This appropriation includes $65 million for POWER, $10 million for Substance Abuse Disorder, $10 million to continue a program of broadband deployment in distressed counties in Central…

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 7, 2020—This week, 19 rising high-school seniors from 9 Appalachian states began the Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy (AEA)—a 12-month, free, blended learning curriculum featuring working modules led by regional experts in business planning, market analysis, product development and other entrepreneurial services. As part of the program, students will participate…

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 1, 2020—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced that 81 high school and middle school students and 13 high school teachers from 13 Appalachian states will participate in the 30th annual ARC/ORNL Summer STEM Program. Originally planned as residential learning experience, this program will be delivered virtually beginning…

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 30, 2020—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) welcomed the release of The Appalachian Energy and Petrochemical Renaissance: An Examination of Economic Progress and Opportunities, a new Department of Energy report on the Region’s growing shale and gas industries. Drawing on ARC data, research, and investment outcomes, the…

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 10, 2020—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission released The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2014–2018 American Community Survey, also known as “The Chartbook.” Drawing from the American Community Survey and comparable Census Population Estimates available as of 2018, the data predates the COVID-19 crisis. The report…

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 11, 2020—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced a $3.75 million grant to Appalachian Community Capital (ACC) for the ARC-ACC Emergency Business Response Assistance Program to strengthen and stabilize the Region’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and other mission-driven development finance lenders serving small businesses impacted by COVID-19…

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 16, 2020—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced an investment of $300,000 to The Industrial Commons, in Morganton, North Carolina, to purchase materials and coordinate staff to manufacture needed medical safety gear to fulfill product demand across the Appalachian Region and the nation. The Industrial Commons,…

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 13, 2020—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) began accepting applications for the second class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, a leadership and economic development training opportunity for community leaders who currently live and/or work in Appalachia. The Appalachian Leadership Institute is an extensive nine-month program focusing on skill-building,…