With today’s announcement, ARC has awarded nearly $4 million to 41 local development districts (LDDs) to expand capacity, enhance technical assistance for communities across 11 Appalachian states.

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 5, 2023—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced $1 million in awards through READY LDDs, one of four tailored tracks under ARC’s capacity-building initiative, READY Appalachia. Today’s awards will help the following 10 Local Development Districts (LDDs) representing eight Appalachian states expand staffing and capacity to better support their communities in identifying, accessing, and implementing federal funding through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and other funding sources:

• Barren River Area Development District (KY), $100,000
• Bluegrass Area Development District (KY), $100,000
• First Tennessee Development District (TN), $100,000
• FIVCO Area Development District (KY), $100,000
• Georgia Mountains Regional Commission (GA), $100,000
• Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments (AL), $100,000
• Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association (OH), $100,000
• Region IV Planning and Development Council (WV), $100,000
• Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission (VA), $100,000
• Western Piedmont Council of Governments (NC), $100,000

Today’s package builds on the nearly $3 million in READY LDD funds ARC has already awarded to five Kentucky LDDs and 26 LDDs across nine states, bringing the total award package to nearly $4 million for 41 LDDs across 11 Appalachian states. Supported in part by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), READY LDDs provides Appalachian LDDs with match-free funding to hire additional staff and contractors dedicated to helping local communities identify, access, and manage the unprecedented levels of federal funding currently available for economic and community development projects.

“ARC’s Local Development District partners are at the heart of the work we do in our Appalachian communities,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “As they are the ones with their boots on the ground, ARC is proud to support our LDDs with the latest round of READY funding, which will allow them to further encourage economic growth and collaboration across the Appalachian region.”

“Kentucky’s Area Development Districts do amazing work for communities across the state,” said ARC 2023 States’ Co-Chair, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “These funds will help them to continue providing resources and guidance to governments and organizations in Kentucky. The READY Appalachia initiative shows that good things happen when we work together on the federal, state, and local levels.”

“This EPA funding is a clear example of how the Biden-Harris Administration is investing in America’s future,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “Providing greater support and resources to help Appalachian communities rebuild, grow and thrive is a top priority for EPA and this Administration.”

ARC will announce additional funding opportunities through READY Appalachia by early 2024.

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 READY Appalachia  
READY Appalachia is an Appalachian Regional Commission community-capacity building initiative offering free training and flexible funding for nonprofit organizations, community organizations, local governments, and Local Development Districts (LDDs) in the Appalachian Region. Participants access cohort-based learning, skill-development, and grant opportunities to increase their capacity to solve pressing issues and effect long-lasting economic change in their communities.