On September 5, the Appalachian Regional Commission announced $16.9 million in funding for five collaborative projects to expand the region’s infrastructure, tourism, business development and workforce opportunities funded through ARC’s Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) program,

Four of the five projects will benefit Pennsylvania--

-- $4,500,000 to the Beneficial Electrification League to modernize electric utility grid infrastructure in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

-- $3,889,964 to the Appalachian Investors Alliance to establish micro-venture and angel funds for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and launch the Appalachian Venture Foundry to prepare businesses for investments, in Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia.

-- $500,000 to Carnegie Mellon University to plan for the expansion of job skills matching and career support services in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

-- $72,219 to the Pennsylvania Environmental Council to plan for improved trail connectivity to boost tourism in Pennsylvania and New York, including the Seneca Nation of Indians.

“By combining multi-state collaboration with innovative partnerships, ARC’s ARISE projects serve as models for how we can work as one, united Appalachia to maximize economic growth,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “I congratulate our newest ARISE grantees and am proud to have announced them in the presence of many of our federal, state, and local partners at ARC’s annual conference. I have no doubt that these ARISE projects—which include both planning and implementation grants—will build on previous successes and result in greater opportunities for our Appalachian people and communities.”

Project funding came from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

[Posted: September 6, 2024]

9/9/2024