Following completion of the Appalachian Regional Commission’s nine-month economic development training program, graduates bring new skills and vision to their work strengthening Appalachian communities.
WASHINGTON, DC, July 23, 2025—The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is proud to announce that 38 fellows from Appalachia’s 13 states graduated from the Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI). The ALI training program equips the region’s public, private, and nonprofit leaders to use economic development as a tool to drive positive change. Members of the Class of 2025, along with their family and friends, attended the graduation ceremony today in Washington, D.C.
“Congratulations to the Appalachian Leadership Institute Class of 2025! I have no doubt that the economy of the entire Appalachian region will be bolstered thanks to the work of these ALI fellows,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “The hard work and dedication they have put into the program over the last nine months will not only lead to forward momentum for their communities as these Appalachian change makers apply their new knowledge and skills, but also as they connect with former ALI graduates to grow even larger economic development projects across the region.”
Throughout the nine months prior to graduation, fellows traveled to six Appalachian communities around the region for skill-building seminars, which incorporated case study analysis, peer-to-peer learning, and field visits to see ARC-funded projects in action.
“The Appalachian Leadership Institute exemplifies the importance of investing in our Appalachian people,” said 2025 ARC States’ Co-Chair, Maryland Governor Wes Moore. “By bolstering the work being done by our existing leaders, both here in Maryland and across Appalachia, we contribute to the growth of our region’s economic development and help ensure a bright future for our neighbors.”
These Appalachian leaders will apply the skills and knowledge from ALI curriculum to continue serving their communities through business and workforce development, healthcare, tourism, and a variety of other public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Additionally, graduates of the Appalachian Leadership Institute gain access to the Appalachian Leadership Institute Alumni Network, with more than 230 leaders that together help facilitate continued learning and idea exchange across Appalachia’s 13 states and 423 counties.
About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development entity of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 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.
About the Appalachian Leadership Institute
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 Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs; Tuskegee University; and Collective Impact. 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.