On September 16, the Appalachian Regional Commission announced the award of nearly $46.4 million for 57 projects across 184 counties to support economic diversification in the Region’s coal-impacted communities. 

Nine grants were awarded to projects in Pennsylvania totaling about $8 million..

Funding for the projects was made possible through ARC’s POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative, which targets federal resources to communities affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries.

The Pennsylvania projects included--

-- Greene County Broadband Initiative - $2.5 million

-- Igniting Innovation In The PA Wilds Region - $1.5 million

-- Institute for Health & Cyber Knowledge - $1.4 million

-- Clarion County Broadband Project - $1 million

-- Connecting the Alleghenies Thru Broadband - $745,588

-- Workforce Ready Thru Recovery & Career Services - $705,477

-- Carbon County Broadband Project - $50,000

-- NE PA Trail Connectivity Assessment - PEC - $50,000

-- Regional Integrated Manufacturing Ecosystem - $50,000

Click Here for project details.  Click Here for complete announcement.

PA RGGI Proposal

Revenue generated from the final regulations setting carbon pollution limits on power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Initiative could provide help to workers and communities transition to clean energy-- the only program proposed to provide this kind of assistance.  Read more here.

Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, has introduced Senate Bill 15 to implement this assistance program.  A companion bill was introduced in the House-- House Bill 1565.   Read more here.

There are no similar Republican bills to help workers or communities.

NewsClip:

-- AP: Appalachian Commission Distributes $46 Million For Projects

[Posted: September 17, 2021]

9/20/2021