The final reports in the Creating a Culture of Health in Appalachia research initiative are a set of three issue briefs created to help inform community efforts related to the specific, prevalent Appalachian health issues of obesity, opioid misuse, and smoking. This brief summarizes relevant health statistics, offers key strategies…

This brief summarizes relevant health statistics, offers key strategies and resources for communities to explore, and provides recommendations aimed at reducing health disparities in the Appalachian Region related to obesity.

This brief summarizes relevant health statistics, offers key strategies and resources for communities to explore, and provides recommendations aimed at reducing health disparities in the Appalachian Region related to opioid misuse.

This brief summarizes relevant health statistics, offers key strategies and resources for communities to explore, and provides recommendations aimed at reducing health disparities in the Appalachian Region related to smoking.

On April 8, 2019, ARC began accepting applications for the inaugural class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute a new leadership and economic development training opportunity for community leaders who currently live and/or work in Appalachia. The Appalachian Leadership Institute is an extensive nine-month program focusing on skill-building, seminars, best practice…

On April 3, 2019, ARC announced announced $3.3 million to continue supporting economic diversification in the Region’s coal-impacted communities through the POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative. These investments focus on strengthening responses to the substance abuse crisis Kentucky and Ohio, and building a sustainable local…

In February 2019, ARC released a state-by-state overview of the Commission’s fiscal year 2018 economic development investments in the Appalachian Region. The overview includes 13 state investment fact sheets, as well as a companion fact sheet outlining ARC’s regional investments during the fiscal year.

On February 21, 2019, ARC announced announced $22.8 million to expand and diversify the economy in Appalachia’s coal-impacted communities through the POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative. These 33 awards are projected to create or retain nearly 1,000 jobs, benefit over 3,300 students and workers, and…

Strengthening Economic Resilience in Appalachia, identifies factors common across communities experiencing persistent economic growth in the aftermath of the 2008 Recession and other economic disruptions. The research includes a statistical analysis of key factors common to economic resilience, as well as a guidebook featuring ten communities that have rebounded after…

Chosen by his fellow Appalachian governors to serve as the Commission's 2019 states' co-chair, Cooper will work directly with the ARC federal co-chair in this leadership role to continue the agency's commitment to economic growth in the 13-state Appalachian Region.