Appalachia’s 74 Local Development Districts play a critical role in community and economic growth, often serving as the primary development organizations rural areas. With unprecedented amounts of federal funding available, LDDs need support to help their communities identify, access, and best utilize these financial opportunities.
Through READY LDDs, ARC is making up to $4 million available to help LDDs increase staffing and capacity to support local governments and nonprofits in the management of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and other sources.
ARC Awards Nearly $3 Million through READY LDDs
In May and June 2023, ARC awarded nearly $3 million for 31 LDDs across 10 Appalachian states.
Funds will help LDDs 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.
More funding will be announced this fall.
Why Provide Financial Assistance?
READY LDDs is a follow-up to ARC’s Community Capacity Building Pilot Program, which provided expert training and peer-learning opportunities to local governments and LDDs across Appalachia.
Though the program helped 650 participants from 408 counties better leverage the ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, participants emphasized their need for more technical assistance and staff to access and manage federal funds. READY LDDs is designed to help LDDs meet those needs.
If you are an Appalachian LDD, local government official (or key staff) who wishes to access recordings, slides, and case studies from the program, please email ready@arc.gov to gain access to the Community Capacity Training Hub.
