READY Local Governments provides training to help local government officials better identify, secure, manage and implement federally funded economic development projects to maximize positive outcomes.
Following successful completion of the training program, participants are eligible to apply for up to $50,000 in funding (no-match required) to enhance organizational ability to better meet their communities’ economic needs.
ARC Selects 60 Local Governments for Training
In September 2026, ARC selected 60 local governments from 11 Appalachian states to participate in the second round READY Local Governments training.
Participants will build skills to manage the entire federal grant lifecycle, including federal grant readiness, application development and submission, regulations and compliance, and leveraging federal grants for long-term success.Â
Past READY Local Government Participants
To date, ARC has awarded nearly $3.4 million to 69 Appalachian local governments after they successfully completed the first round of the READY Local Governments Training Program.
Helping All Communities Access Resources
Any borough, city, county, municipality, parish, town, township or federally recognized Indian tribe in the Appalachian Region is eligible for READY Local Governments.
Municipalities serving economically distressed counties are strongly encouraged to participate.
Contact Us
If you have questions, please contact our team at READY@arc.gov.