Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)

The Appalachian Region, as defined in ARC’s authorizing legislation, is a 205,000-square-mile region that follows the spine of the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York to northern Mississippi. It includes all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Each year in Pennsylvania, ARC provides funding for numerous projects in the Appalachian Region in a wide range of program areas. The projects funded in the program areas create thousands of new jobs, improve local water and sewer systems, increase school readiness, expand access to health care, assist local communities with strategic planning and provide technical and managerial assistance to emerging businesses. Financial Info: The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awards grants and contracts from funds appropriated to the Commission annually by Congress. ARC funds are leveraged with other federal, state and local money to provide a broad array of small business assistance to the Appalachian region. The priorities for investment of ARC resources are determined essentially to accomplish five long-term strategic goals for Pennsylvania’s economy: GOAL 1: Economic Opportunities Invest in entrepreneurial and business development strategies that strengthen Appalachia’s economy. GOAL 2: Ready Workforce Increase the education, knowledge, skills, and health of residents to work and succeed in Appalachia. GOAL 3: Critical Infrastructure Invest in critical infrastructure—especially broadband; transportation (including the Appalachian Development Highway System); and water/wastewater systems. GOAL 4: Natural and Cultural Assets Strengthen Appalachia’s community and economic development potential by leveraging the Region’s natural and cultural heritage assets. GOAL 5: Leadership and Community Capacity Build the capacity and skills of current and next-generation leaders and organizations to innovate, collaborate, and advance community and economic development. GOAL 1: Economic Opportunities GOAL 1: Economic Opportunities Invest in entrepreneurial and business development strategies that strengthen Appalachia’s economy. GOAL 2: Ready Workforce GOAL 2: Ready Workforce Increase the education, knowledge, skills, and health of residents to work and succeed in Appalachia. GOAL 3: Critical Infrastructure GOAL 3: Critical Infrastructure Invest in critical infrastructure—especially broadband; transportation (including the Appalachian Development Highway System); and water/wastewater systems. GOAL 4: Natural and Cultural Assets GOAL 4: Natural and Cultural Assets Strengthen Appalachia’s community and economic development potential by leveraging the Region’s natural and cultural heritage assets. GOAL 5: Leadership and Community Capacity GOAL 5: Leadership and Community Capacity Build the capacity and skills of current and next-generation leaders and organizations to innovate, collaborate, and advance community and economic development.