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About ARC
The Appalachian Regional Commission's mission is to be an advocate for and partner with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life.
The Appalachian Regional Commission was established by Congress in 1965 to support economic and social development in the Appalachian Region.
The Commission is a unique partnership composed of the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a presidential appointee representing the federal government. Grassroots participation is provided through local development districts—multi-county organizations with boards made up of elected officials, businesspeople, and other local leaders.
ARC Projects
ARC undertakes projects that address the five goals identified by ARC in its strategic plan:
- Developing a knowledgeable and skilled population
- Strengthening the Region's physical infrastructure
- Building local and regional capacity
- Creating a dynamic economic base
- Fostering healthy people
To meet these goals, ARC helps fund such projects as education and workforce training programs, highway construction, water and sewer system construction, leadership development programs, small business start-ups and expansions, and development of health-care resources.
Examples of Projects
How ARC Works
Each year Congress appropriates funds, which ARC allocates among its member states. The Appalachian governors submit to ARC their state spending plans for the year, which include lists of projects they recommend for funding. The spending plans are reviewed and approved at a meeting of all the governors and the federal co-chair.
The next step is approval of individual projects by the ARC federal co-chair. After the states submit project applications to ARC, each project is reviewed by ARC program analysts. The process is completed when the federal co-chair reviews a project and formally approves it.
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