This report is the first in a series of annual evaluation reports for ARC’s Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE). ARISE is a multi-state initiative that aims to drive large-scale, regional economic transformation through collaborative projects. Based on a combination of project-level inquiry with initiative-level analysis, key findings for ARISE’s…

READY Community Foundations will provide 30 community foundations serving the Appalachian Region with no-cost training and access to funding to expand local philanthropic impact. WASHINGTON, D.C., August 29, 2024 – Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced the 30 community foundations, serving communities in 10 Appalachian states, selected to participate…

This study examines state- and county-level data for the 13 Appalachian states from the 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS) and from U.S. Census Bureau population estimates on topics including population, age, race and ethnicity, housing occupancy and tenure, education, labor force, employment and unemployment, income and poverty, health insurance coverage,…

Community foundations serving Appalachia are invited to join an informational webinar on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. ET to learn about READY Community Foundations. This no-cost, six-week virtual training program is designed to help community foundation leaders build skills in effective operations, fundraising, and programming. Following…

READY Community Foundations is a six-week training and funding initiative to help community foundations in the Appalachian Region strengthen operations, programming and fundraising.  WASHINGTON, D.C., May 30, 2024 –Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced the launch of  READY Community Foundations, one of four tailored…

READY Local Governments will provide training, expert guidance, and funding opportunities to help local governments in the Appalachian Region apply for, manage, and implement federal funding. WASHINGTON, D.C., April 24, 2024—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced the 90 local government entities, representing 12 Appalachian states, selected to participate…

Public, private, and nonprofit leaders throughout Appalachia are encouraged to apply for ARC’s free nine-month training program. WASHINGTON, D.C., April 10, 2024—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) opened applications for the sixth class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI), a nine-month leadership development training opportunity with a focus on economic…

Two new ARISE grants promote multi-state solutions to outdoor recreation tourism and behavioral healthcare challenges across Appalachian Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. WASHINGTON, D.C., April 4, 2024—Today the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded two new grants totaling $17 million to boost outdoor recreation tourism and strengthen the behavioral healthcare…

ARC is excited to hold our annual conference, Advancing Appalachia, at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on September 4-5, 2024. Our annual conference, co-hosted by the State of Tennessee, will highlight how our 13 states and 423 counties are working to advance Appalachia by building businesses and…