Like many coal-impacted areas in Appalachia, Eastern Kentucky is tackling economic transition head-on by diversifying its economic bases and creating new opportunities in communities. Emerging industries such as information technology (IT), computer science, and engineering have shown promise, but a shortage of IT talent was keeping the region from reaching…

In September 2021, Frostburg State University received the state of Maryland’s first-ever ARC POWER implementation grant. The $1,480,979 award helped continue the development of the Advanced Technology Center at Frostburg’s Innovation Park, which works to strengthen Western Maryland’s economy by creating new job opportunities…

WSCC prepares students for the future automotive industry.

EdVenture is driving educational change and empowering Appalachian students.

Line workers hold one of the essential positions in a region’s critical infrastructure by safely maintaining their communities’ electricity access. In Jefferson County, Alabama and the Greater Birmingham region, there is a tremendous need for skilled line workers due to the high rate of retirements. Furthermore, with an average annual…

“Revolutionary Unique” was one of the many businesses pitched at the Dare to DreamCompetition for high school students in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Creating a brighter economic future for Appalachia means investing in leadership skills and capacity of young doers, thinkers and leaders today. That’s why ARC…

“About 80% of West Virginia businesses have 20 or less employees,” said Alyssa Keedy, the Advanced Career Education Coordinator at the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE). Why is that the case? One reason is a disconnect between West Virginia workers and the skills needed by local employers. With many…

Pictured from left to right are Hillary Wilcox, Visions FCU Branch Manager, and Jennifer Waite, the Delaware-Chenango-Madison- Otsego Board of Cooperative Educational Services Director of Career & Technical Education. Despite the reality that regional employers require skills such as specialized technical information, teamwork, and the use of technology, Appalachian New…

Since its conception in 2005, Spark Center SC, located on the Spartanburg Community College Tyger River campus in Duncan, South Carolina, has specialized in business incubation, soft landings, workforce employment services, and special projects which assists in spurring economic development. Between 2009-2019, the Spark Center has worked with over 100…

Tyrone Wilson, Founder & President of Cover 6 Solutions, leading instruction for the first-ever cohort of cybersecurity training participants onsite at the Pikeville Teleworks USA Hub in November 2019. For nearly 50 years, Hazard, Kentucky’s EKCEP (the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc.), has offered focused training, employment, and workforce…

Nationwide, there is a shortage of veterinarians in rural areas, including in Appalachia. With ARC funding, Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine purchased state-of-the-art equipment for the newly constructed Virginia campus to give students’ more opportunities to high paying jobs in the veterinarian field. Equipment includes life-size simulated farm…

The Communiversity at East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) Center for Manufacturing Technology Excellence 2.0, is a state-of-the-art workforce training center looking to produce trained workers for some of the world’s most technically advanced manufacturers. ARC has invested $10.7 million in the 135,000-square-foot facility that delivers training and education to support…