WASHINGTON, D.C., April 13, 2020—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) began accepting applications for the second class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, a leadership and economic development training opportunity for community leaders who currently live and/or work in Appalachia. The Appalachian Leadership Institute is an extensive nine-month program focusing on skill-building, seminars, best practice reviews, mentoring, and networking. The curriculum is anchored by six multi-day seminars followed by a capstone graduation.
As part of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, participating Fellows will learn how to:
- Design effective economic development project proposals
- Integrate community assets into long-lasting economic development strategies
- Identify resources available to spur economic development
- Locate and access investment capital from a variety of public and private sources
- Prepare competitive applications for public grant opportunities
- Use expanded leadership skills to create strong coalitions
Upon completion of the program, Appalachian Leadership Institute Fellows will automatically become part of the Appalachian Leadership Institute Network, a peer-to-peer working group committed to Appalachia’s future. Applications are currently being accepted at www.arc.gov/leadershipinstitute through May 1, 2020. The 2020–2021 Appalachian Leadership Institute will run from October 2020–July 2021.
“The Appalachian Leadership Institute is an important opportunity for community leaders to build their skills, their credentials, and their networks,” said ARC Federal Co-Chairman Tim Thomas. “Participants get access to important leaders from throughout the region and the country, and learn from Appalachian communities who have found leadership strategies that work. I highly recommend participation in this program.”
The Appalachian Leadership Institute is limited to 40 Fellows annually, drawn from Appalachia’s public, private, and non-profit sectors. Fellows will be chosen via a competitive application. Each class will include representatives from each of the thirteen state in the ARC footprint to reflect the region’s diverse economic development challenges, opportunities, and strategies. Travel and other participation costs will be covered by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
The Appalachian Leadership Institute is a comprehensive regional leadership training program developed by the Appalachian Regional Commission in partnership with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; The Howard H. Baker Center for Public Policy; Tuskegee University; and Collective Impact. More information about the Appalachian Leadership Institute is available at www.arc.gov/leadershipinstitute. The current class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute includes representatives from a variety of sectors and industries such as education, health care, economic development, public service, and other professions.
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.