THE APPALACHIAN REGION The Appalachian Region includes all of West Virginia and parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The Region is home to more than 25 million people and covers 420 counties and almost 205,000 square miles. |
APPALACHIAN STATESLearn more about ARC's investmentsin each Appalachian state |
 NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTSIn the Region This Week: April 6
ARCs new data chartbook gives statistical insights on change in Appalachia; the Appalachia Funders Network explores regional investment opportunities to spur economic transition; West Virginia's Fayette County Living Well Coalition is lauded for its healthy-lifestyle leadership. Read more and subscribe to ARC's weekly news snapshot. ARC Announces $2.4 Million in Additional Investments to Strengthen Economy in Region's Coal-Impacted Communities
On March 28, ARC announced $2.4 million in investments to continue diversifying the economy in Appalachia's coal-impacted communities. The investments will create and retain hundreds of jobs in advanced manufacturing and agriculture, build a workforce pipeline through the Region's community colleges, and identify additional economic opportunities for economic growth in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. With these awards, ARC has now invested $75.5 million to diversify the economy in 236 coal-impacted counties across nine Appalachian states. Press release In the Region This Week: March 30
ARC invests additional $2.4 million to create economic opportunity in coal-impacted communities; in Appalachian Alabama, creative collaboration is key to "Shoals Shift" development strategy; West Virginia explores brownfield conversion for technology business facilities. Read more and subscribe to ARC's weekly news snapshot. Legislative Update: President's FY 2018 Budget Blueprint Outlines Spending Priorities, Proposes Elimination of Agencies Including ARC
Released March 16, the president's budget blueprint proposes increased federal funding for certain defense, security, and other programs, with the increases offset by proposed reductions in or elimination of a range of programs, including ARC. Legislative update 
New Resource: ARC Investment Fact Sheets
A new downloadable fact sheet series details ARC's recent investments and their impacts in each of the 13 Appalachian states and across the Region. In addition to funding data, the fact sheets offer snapshots of individual investments at work and county economic status maps. Download fact sheets In the Region This Week: March 23
SOAR strategy to bring affordable broadband to eastern Kentucky; DDAA conference spotlights Appalachia's changing workforce development needs; "30 Mile Meal" branding program boosts West Virginia's food and farm businesses. Read more and subscribe to ARC's weekly news snapshot. ARC Releases Toolkit to Help Rural Communities Expand Broadband Service
The Broadband Planning Primer and Toolkit offers information and resources to guide rural Appalachian communities as they undertake broadband planning and implementation efforts. Press release and toolkit Study to Evaluate Highway System's Impact on the Appalachian Economy
An ARC study will look at how the Appalachian Development Highway System's development has affected economic growth in Appalachia, as well as the future economic benefits and costs of completing the system. The first volume of the study, which summarizes previously published ADHS impact studies, is now available; the full report will be published in mid 2017. Read volume 1 |
UPCOMING EVENTSNational Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit DDAA 2017 Professional Development Conference "It's Good to be Young in the Mountains" Conference Aspen Institute Panel Discussion: "Reframing Natural Resource Economies" 2017 Broadband Communities Summit |