ARC workforce initiative awards more than $15M awarded to 15 projects

The Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative recently awarded more than $15 million in grants to 15 projects in Pennsylvania.

Projects include the treatment of substance use disorder, behavioral health, workforce academies, broadband investments, energy innovation, and tourism.

Two grants were for technical assistance, two for broadband, and 11 were implementation awards.

The POWER Initiative helps communities and regions affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries. Grants support attracting new investments, job training, and re-employment opportunities, and creating jobs in existing and new industries.

“We are so proud to congratulate the commonwealth’s 15 POWER awardees, whose submitted projects will position our Appalachian Region communities for economic growth and new investments for years to come,” Dennis Davin, Department of Community and Economic Development secretary, said. “Across coal-impacted counties, this funding will support major economic and community-focused efforts to further grow vibrant, strong local economies, which is more important now than ever before.”

ARC’s focus for this funding round was regional, strategic, transformational projects that maximize economic revitalization.

Funding is available to Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.