Appalachian Regional Commission

Ahead of Appalachia Builds, representatives of all 13 Appalachian states and ARC's Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin met to discuss our investments in the region.

Thank you to our States’ Co-Chair Governor Tate Reeves and all of our state partners for convening with us in Mississippi! ARC’s federal-state-local partnership structure is key to driving continued economic growth across Appalachia.

We’re ready to welcome federal, state, and local partners to Mississippi this week for our 2026 annual conference, Appalachia Builds: Breaking New Ground for Economic Growth!

Hundreds of Appalachian leaders will soon gather in City of Starkville, MS to share how they are strengthening economic development in their communities.

Thank you to 2026 States’ Co-Chair Governor Tate Reeves and Mississippi Development Authority for being our cohosts!

ARC is investing in advanced metals manufacturing! This industry needs workers who can operate today’s most sophisticated imaging and analytical tools.

$800K from ARC is helping Mississippi State University (MSU) expand its hands‑on training and research capacity, through the addition of a state‑of‑the‑art Scanning Electron Microscope. 🔬

The new equipment will give students real-world experience in materials analysis while helping regional manufacturers shorten turnaround times and improve product quality. By modernizing training infrastructure, the project grows the metals talent pool and positions the Golden Triangle as a nationally competitive hub for advanced manufacturing. ⚙️ Learn more about this project: https://bit.ly/4ulNvAd

We’ll be at MSU next week for our 2026 Annual Conference and are excited to see investments like this in action! Be sure to follow along for updates from the conference, Appalachia Builds: Breaking New Ground for Economic Growth.

(Photos by Beth Wynn / © Mississippi State University)

Contract opportunity!

ARC is seeking a qualified consultant to study economic benefit concepts and actionable strategies that will help state Departments of Transportation complete the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS).

The ADHS is a 3,090-mile network of highways, comprised of 33 corridors that spur economic activity throughout the region. 🛣️

Proposals are due June 25! https://bit.ly/4wum0q6

Thinking of applying to the Appalachian Leadership Institute? 💭 Applications are due June 1! https://bit.ly/3xBx7DE

At no cost to participants, this eight-month in-person program builds skills needed to strengthen economic development. Anyone living or working in Appalachia's 423 counties is eligible to apply!

Required letters of intent (LOI) to apply for INSPIRE funding are due TOMORROW, May 12, at 5:00 p.m. ET. 🌟 INSPIRE funds projects that that help Appalachians in recovery from substance use disorder get and keep jobs.

Submit your LOI and access other application resources here: https://bit.ly/3Sdxts4

Coal communities! Economic development funding is available through our POWER Initiative. If you’re interested in applying:

📺 Watch the pre-application video.
⌨️ Register for our grant management system by May 15.
✍️ Submit your Letter of Intent to apply by May 22.
📬 Apply by July 8.

All that information & more can be found here ➡️ https://bit.ly/4ndxdY2

📷:
Norton, VA
Ashland, KY
Abingdon, VA
Wheeling, WV
St. Paul, VA
Johnstown, PA
Lebanon, VA

POWER 2026 funding applications are open now! The initiative aims to empower entrepreneurs, develop the workforce and grow industries that strengthen economies in coal communities. ⚡

Interested in applying? Watch our pre-application video, submit your Letter of Intent to apply and access more resources here: https://bit.ly/4ndxdY2

Are you interested in INSPIRE Initiative funding? 🌟 Letters of Intent (LOI) to apply are due May 12!

Submitting an LOI is required to apply for INSPIRE, which funds projects that that help Appalachians in recovery from substance use disorder get and keep jobs.

Submit your LOI and access other application resources here: https://bit.ly/3Sdxts4

Now accepting proposals! 📣 ARC is seeking a qualified research consultant to assess the differences in economic outcomes between similar Appalachian and non-Appalachian counties (AKA “twin counties”), and how those differences are associate with ARC investments.

Proposals are due June 16!

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3QIWnBB