Skip to main content


Appalachian Regional Commission

          
CLOSE
        Appalachian Region
              Data Overview of the Appalachian Region
                      Appalachian States
                      Appalachian Counties Served by ARC
                      County Economic Status and Distressed Areas in Appalachia
                      Tribal Communities in the Appalachian Region
                      Congressional Districts in Appalachia
                      Local Development Districts in Appalachia
      Investment Priorities
              Building Businesses
                      Workforce Ecosystems
                              Addressing Substance Use Disorder
                      Community Infrastructure
                              Transportation in Appalachia
                      Regional Culture and Tourism
                      Community Leaders and Capacity
                              READY Appalachia
                      Investments in Action
      Grants and Opportunities
              About ARC Grants
                              Match Requirements for ARC Grants
                      Funding Opportunities
                              Area Development ProgramOpen
                                      ARISE InitiativeOpen
                                      INSPIRE Initiative
                                      POWER InitiativeOpen
                                      WORC InitiativeOpen
                      Capacity Building Opportunities
                              Academies and Institutes
                                      READY Appalachia
                      Additional Opportunities
                              Access to Capital Program
                                      Appalachian Regional Energy Hub Initiative
                                      J-1 Visa Waiver Program
                                      Local Access Road Program
                      Contract Opportunities
                      Applicant Resources
                      Grantee Resources
                      Approved ARC Projects
      Research and Data
              Research Reports
                      Evaluations
                      Maps
                      Data Report Tool
                      Fact Sheets and Infographics
      Academies and Institutes
              Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative
                      Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy
                      Appalachian Leadership Institute
                      Appalachian STEM Academy
      About ARC
              History and Work
                      Structure and Leadership
                              ARC Offices & Staff
                                      State Partners
                                      Local Development Districts
                                      Office of Inspector General
                      Budget, Performance, and Policy
                      Newsroom
                      Careers at ARC
                      Internships at ARC
      SearchSearch
    Search

              Events
      Newsroom
      Get ARC Updates
      Inspector GeneralFacebook
      Twitter
      Youtube
      LinkedIn You are here
    HomeNewsroomNewsARC Announces $3.3 Million to Continue Economic Growth in Region’s Coal-Impacted Communities

      	
	
ARC Announces $3.3 Million to Continue Economic Growth in Region’s Coal-Impacted Communities
	
			February 12, 2020
                **Media Contact:**
											Wendy WassermanARC Updates
          Economic Status and OpportunitiesPress Release
	
				
			Projects Focus on Broadband Infrastructure, Substance Use Disorder Recovery, and Opportunity Zone Investments
	
	
	**WASHINGTON, D.C.**, February 12, 2020—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced nearly $3.3 million in investments to continue supporting economic diversification in the Region’s coal-impacted communities. The projects announced today specifically focus on improving broadband infrastructure in New York, strengthening responses to the substance abuse crisis in Pennsylvania,and supporting Opportunity Zone investments in Alabama.
“These three investments in Appalachian communities well-represent the breadth of the work ARC is doing through the POWER Initiative,” said ARC Federal Co-Chairman Tim Thomas. “Whether it’s funding important broadband infrastructure to ensure citizens and businesses have competitive internet access, investing in facilities for individuals navigating the substance abuse recovery to work process, or helping communities capitalize on the transformative change Opportunity Zones can provide, POWER is helping change the narrative for coal-impacted Appalachia.”
Today’s award include:
**$1,552,554 to Southern Tier Network, in Corning, New York**, to expand the Southern Tier of New York’s existing high-speed dark fiber optic ring to create increased capacity through additional loops of fiber to ensure that entrepreneurs in the most rural areas of the region will be able to effectively startup businesses.
**$1,000,000 to the Somerset County Commissioners, in Somerset, Pennsylvania**, to assist with construction of the new detox unit of the Twin Lakes Center which treats individuals suffering from substance use disorder, providing an additional 472 patients annually, and 33 jobs for substance abuse recovery professionals.
**$733,150 to Opportunity Alabama, Inc. in Birmingham, Alabama**, to build local capacity to effectively prepare for Opportunity Zone investment; create a dedicated pipeline to access national and local Opportunity Zone investments; and develop unique impact investment data collection and analysis processes around Opportunity Zone projects.Funding for today’s awards was made via the POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) a congressionally funded initiative that targets federal resources to help communities and regions that have been affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries due to the changing economics of America’s energy production. With today’s announcement, ARC has invested over $195 million in 242 projects touching 350 counties across Appalachia. Together, these investments are projected to create and/or retain 23,500 jobs, create and/or improve more than 10,700 businesses, and attract over $900 million in leverage private investment into Appalachia’s coal-impacted communities. More information about the POWER Initiative is available at www.arc.gov/power.
ARC is currently accepting applications in response to the POWER 2020 Request for Proposals (RFP). Required Letters of Intent are due 5 p.m. (ET) February, 28, 2020. Final applications are due 5 pm (ET) March 27, 2020. Additional guidance on application submission is available at www.arc.gov/power
**About the Appalachian Regional Commission**
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. Appalachian Regional Commission

          About ARC Grants
      Grants and Opportunities
      Newsroom
      Contract Opportunities
      Contact ARC
      Careers

  Get ARC News and Updates
    
    
                
  Sign Up Here
    Web and Privacy Policy