Our Work in Kentucky In partnership with the Kentucky Department for Local Government, ARC is supporting 45 projects in Kentucky totaling $32.3 million in fiscal year (FY) 2024. These investments have been matched by $26.2 million. They are also educating and training 2,638 students and workers, serving 4,497 households/businesses with…

Andy Beshear was sworn in as Kentucky’s Governor in December 2019. A native of north-central Kentucky, Governor Beshear graduated from Vanderbilt University, and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was a Dean’s Scholar. His early career began while he was working…

Matt Sawyers serves as commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Local Government. Previously, Sawyers served as policy advisory in Governor Beshear’s Office of the General Counsel. He was also the executive director of the National Association of Shell Marketers, which represents companies across the United States with supply agreements to…

In 2024, ARC awarded $10M in POWER funds to healthcare workforce development projects in coal-impacted communities across the Appalachian Region.

When it comes to addressing substance use disorder (SUD) and helping Appalachians recover, removing employment barriers is a crucial key to success. That’s why Kentucky River District Health Department is using ARC support to expand a proven recovery-to-work program and create opportunities in even more communities.

Accelerator participants gather in Washington, D.C., in late 2023. Improving access to high-speed internet is vital for strengthening Appalachia’s economy. Fast, reliable broadband supports quality health care, education, tourism, business growth and so much more. Although Appalachians’ broadband access increased by 12 percentage points between 2017 and 2022, Appalachian…

ARC POWER partners are using millions to make financial resources accessible for coal-impacted communities.

With support from ARC’s INSPIRE initiative, many Appalachian communities are addressing substance use disorder (SUD) by bolstering recovery-to-work programs and related support services. Portsmouth, Ohio, and the surrounding area — which includes both Southern Ohio and several counties in north central Appalachian Kentucky — is no…

First round of new funding is made available through ARC’s READY LDDs [local development districts] initiative, with additional grantees to be announced in June of 2023. PINEVILLE, KY., May 11, 2023–Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced nearly $500,000 in new funding to the following Appalachian Kentucky area development districts…

Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation is hosting this forum for local government, nonprofits, and community partners working in these Appalachian Kentucky counties: Bell, Clay, Harlan, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Perry, Whitley, and adjacent counties. The event will build collaboration, capacity, and relationships by connecting the Community…

Building Appalachia’s infrastructure has been an ARC investment priority for 58 years, especially the development and maintenance of basic infrastructure systems for water, sewer, energy and stormwater. ARC’s Area Development Program invested $66.8 million in water and sewer projects alone in Fiscal Year 2022.

Like many coal-impacted areas in Appalachia, Eastern Kentucky is tackling economic transition by diversifying its economic bases and creating new opportunities. 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 its full potential. …