The POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative 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.
The POWER Initiative supports efforts to create a more vibrant economic future for coal-impacted communities by cultivating economic diversity, enhancing job training and re-employment opportunities, creating jobs in existing or new industries, and attracting new sources of investment.
In October 2020, ARC announced $43.3 million across 51 projects to support economic diversification in Appalachia’s coal-impacted communities. More than half of these investments will support recovery-to-work efforts or strengthen the Region’s broadband infrastructure.
POWER’s Impact in Appalachia
Since 2015, ARC has invested over $238 million in 293 projects touching 353 counties across Appalachia through the POWER Initiative. Together, these investments are projected to create or retain more than 26,000 jobs, leverage more than $1.1 billion in additional private investment into Appalachia’s economy, and prepare tens of thousands of workers and students for opportunities in entrepreneurship, broadband development, tourism, and other industry sectors. POWER investments also support workforce-to-recovery and other comprehensive strategies to strengthen the Region’s Recovery Ecosystem.
POWER Recipients
Read more about previous ARC POWER investments transforming coal-impacted economies throughout the Region.
Investments in Action
Sprouting Farms
