Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)

We're excited to introduce the Appalachian Leadership Institute Class of 2024-2025! 🎊 These 40 fellows represent a diverse network of public, private and nonprofit leaders from all 13 Appalachian states. Over the next nine months, they'll explore the region, develop skills, exchange ideas and forge partnerships to strengthen communities. Please join us in celebrating our sixth class of #AppalachianLeaders, y'all! 💙👉 https://bit.ly/4hskxJE

Encouraging news from our partner Appalachian Community Capital! ⬇️ Their Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative, supported by Dogwood Health Trust, will provide relief grants of up to $25,000 to very small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. Please share with businesses that need this support! Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on November 27, 2024: https://bit.ly/48uJdNw We continue to be inspired by ARC partners, and everyone in Appalachia, for making community recovery a reality. 💙

Appalachia is crawling with cryptids 🧟 and many of them create economic opportunities in communities! On Halloween, learn how just a few of these legends are centerpieces of local tourism strategies. 👣 Norton, VA: The Woodbooger, the local version of Bigfoot, has a festival, grill and sanctuary (with a statue!) in its honor. https://bit.ly/3NPmSAt 🐗 Johnstown, PA: The Squonk, a crying cryptid who dwells in hemlock forests, is the star of the annual  Squonkapalooza festival. https://bit.ly/4e47Dyw 👻 West Virginia Paranormal Trail: This exciting new experience from West Virginia Tourism includes The Mothman Museum  in Point Pleasant, WV and the Flatwoods Monster Museum in Sutton, WV. Mothman fans could also time their visit with the annual Mothman Festival! https://bit.ly/48rmIZM Happy Halloween, y’all 🎃

Yesterday, ARC announced our largest ARISE package to date: $33.5M for 12 projects across all 13 Appalachian states! 💸 The package includes $10M for Appalachia Service Project (ASP), which they'll use to establish disaster response and recovery hubs in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. This project was developed after historic flooding in Eastern Kentucky in 2022, but will help provide critical support for current and future recovery efforts, including the devastation from Hurricane Helene. Furthermore, this project exemplifies the long-term capacity building support ARC can provide for Appalachian communities affected by disasters. Learn more about ASP's project: https://bit.ly/3NPE09e and then find resources to support Helene recovery efforts in Appalachian communities: https://bit.ly/3YjxEUs 💙

FedCo on country roads! 🚗 Today, our Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin joined partners West Virginia Community Development Hub and EnergyCommunities to announce $33.5M in ARISE grants. ARISE, our funding initiative that supports large-scale economic transformation in multi-state areas, has awarded nearly $122M to innovative projects to date. "I'm proud that these projects not only impact all 13 Appalachian states," said Co-Chair Manchin, "but also provide critical funding for economic development at a time when many in the region are beginning recovery from Hurricane Helene.” Stay tuned tomorrow to learn more about how our ARISE grantees are supporting storm recovery! 🌟 Until then, learn about all ARISE projects here: https://bit.ly/3s9cWux

ARC has awarded $33.5 million to 12 projects through our multi-state funding opportunity, ARISE! It's our largest ARISE package to date. 🥳 These projects will bring together 145+ partners from all 13 Appalachian states to: 💻🛫 develop workforces for budding industries like cybersecurity, biotech, & aviation, 🏠🏗️ support natural disaster recovery efforts, and 👩⚕️🏞️ expand healthcare, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and more! Find out how today's ARISE awardees will transform Appalachia's regional economy through collaboration: https://bit.ly/4edTRJS...

What is the future of Appalachia? In the hands of the innovative thinkers and doers of the Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI), it's bright. ☀️ The 40 newest ALI fellows just wrapped three days together in Knoxville, joined by experts in Appalachian development. Through trips into the field, skill-building and group networking, they formed relationships and ideas that will guide Appalachia's path forward. During their group challenge this week, they worked together to identify challenges and opportunities in their communities. Over the next nine months, they'll continue to refine their plans and skills as they work toward solutions. Curious to learn more about the latest class of ALI fellows? Follow along with their adventures on ARC's Instagram: instagram.com/arcgov 🌟 In December, they'll be in Hunstville, Alabama, to explore entrepreneurship and building businesses in Southern Appalachia.

If you're looking for Appalachia, look at these 40 leaders! Our newest Appalachian Leadership Institute class is in Knoxville this week to meet each other, get oriented in their new leadership training journey, and learn even more about the region they call home. 🥳 As always, we're so proud to be supporting such amazing Appalachian changemakers. We've brought in an inspirational and innovative group of speakers, facilitators and ALI alumni to guide them as they dive deep into regional history, cultural and economic development this week. “It’s not just about helping you lead Appalachia,” says University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Dr. Tim Ezzell, “but about helping Appalachia become a leader in the world.” ☀️ Want more leadership inspiration? Meet the class! https://bit.ly/4eVqzk7

Strong organizations are key to strengthening Appalachia! Is your organization interested in capacity-building funding? Grants of up to $500K are available now through our new initiative, READY Grants to Grow. 🌱 Letters of intent to apply are due 11/1, so don't wait! (If you're in a Hurricane Helene-impacted community, you're eligible for an extended deadline.) Questions? Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/3YugUvc and watch our pre-application webinar https://bit.ly/48cWOJ7

Fall may be here, but so are applications for ARC's free summer learning opportunities for Appalachian students! 👇 💡 The Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy, hosted at Appalachian State University, seeks high school students interested in cultivating creativity and exploring entrepreneurship. 🔬 Meanwhile, the Appalachian STEM Academy invites middle school students, and high school students and teachers, to work on research projects alongside award-winning scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. We've ensured our partners can safely host camps in summer 2025 and we'll continue to work closely with them as their states recover from Hurricane Helene. Furthermore, we understand potential applicants may also be hurricane-impacted and we're committed to ensuring all students have the opportunity to apply. If an impacted student is unable to make the December 6 application deadline, please email academies@arc.gov. 💙 Learn more about each opportunity here: https://bit.ly/4ebtzId