Two new ARISE grants strengthen green manufacturing and clean energy production and prepare youth for in-demand jobs across five states.
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 10, 2023—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded two new grants totaling over $14.5 million to boost green energy manufacturing and workforce development through its Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) funding opportunity, which drives large-scale economic transformation through multi-state collaboration:
- A $10 million ARISE grant to Catalyst Connection of Pittsburgh, PA will help 1,000+ small to medium manufacturers expand or enter green technology and clean energy sectors in 156 counties across Appalachian Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia. Funds will be used to provide training, technical assistance, supply chain mapping, and guidance on factory upgrades to support manufacturers of renewable energy, hydrogen power, low-carbon and decarbonized power, smart grid improvements, electric vehicles, and green buildings.
- A $4.5+ million ARISE grant to Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission of Towanda, PA will prepare and train an estimated 3,400+ students and young adults in Pennsylvania and New York for jobs in emerging industries. The project aims to engage employers with youth education providers to increase labor participation in Northern Appalachia.
“Thanks to support from the Biden-Harris Administration, ARC’s ARISE grants are making transformational, cross-boundary impacts on our Appalachian states,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “The work of our newest ARISE grantees will help boost workforce opportunities across the region by providing integral job training in growing career fields, which in turn will allow Appalachia to compete economically on a national and global level.”
The projects are funded through ARISE, ARC’s initiative to drive large-scale, regional economic transformation through multi-state collaborative projects across Appalachia. Using funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021, ARC launched ARISE in August of 2022 to strengthen Appalachian business and industry, and to grow and support the development of new economic opportunities across multiple states. A total of $227 million has been made available through ARISE to date.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the economy from the bottom up and middle out, bringing good-paying jobs to communities that have too long been overlooked,” said Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor to the President and White House Infrastructure Coordinator. “These new ARISE awards will expand opportunity, boost domestic manufacturing, and bring the benefits of a clean energy economy to communities across Northern and Central Appalachia.”
“In Kentucky, and across Appalachia, we’re seeing the growth of new industries, bringing jobs an opportunity to our communities,” said ARC 2023 States’ Co-Chair, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “These ARISE funds are helping ensure we have enough workers to meet the demands of this economic growth. This initiative is a great example of working across state lines to benefit our region and build a brighter future for all of our people.”
Learn more about ARISE and the recent updates to the application process: www.arc.gov/ARISE.
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.