On October 8, 2019, ARC announced $44.4 million to continue supporting economic diversification in the Region’s coal-impacted communities through the POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative.

ARC announced 40 Fellows who will be participating in the inaugural class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute. The class draws on each one of Appalachia’s 13 states, and includes public policy, community development, education, investment, and other professionals who live and/or work in the Region.

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved FY 2020 Energy & Water Development Appropriations, which includes $175 million for ARC. The full Senate is expected to take up the bill later this month.

ARC’s Substance Abuse Advisory Council (SAAC) presented a final Report of Recommendations outlining proposed steps for supporting a robust recovery ecosystem in Appalachia, including developing community playbooks, model workforce training programs, employer toolkits, and community navigation programs.

ARC has released a new synopsis report of the Recovery-to-Work listening sessions hosted by the Commission in six states (AL, KY, NC, OH, VA, WV) from December 2018-April 2019. The report summarizes the outcome of those community-based discussions and identifies five common themes that ARC should consider when addressing the…