Virginia ARC Program
Virginia’s Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) funding fosters economic development and improves the quality of life for our Appalachian citizens. ARC provides assistance in the long-term development of a chronically depressed multi-state region, which includes 25 counties and eight independent cities in Virginia. ARC invests in water and sewer service to communities, workforce training for skilled trades and professionals, regional economic restructuring efforts, and heritage and cultural tourism.
ARC uses Congressionally appropriated funds to invest in the Region’s economic and community development through grants. In Fiscal Year 2021, Congress appropriated a record $180 million for the Appalachian Regional Commission.
The POWER Initiative targets federal resources to help communities and regions that have been affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries due to the changing economics of America’s energy production.
Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) is a new ARC initiative that aims to drive large-scale, regional economic transformation through multi-state collaborative projects across Appalachia.
ARC's INSPIRE Initiative addresses the substance use disorder crisis in Appalachia by creating or expanding recovery ecosystems that will lead to workforce entry or re-entry.
ARC has several other grant programs and opportunities that have rotating application windows and will be posted when they are available.
READY Appalachia is ARC’s community capacity-building initiative for nonprofits, community foundations, local governments, and Local Development Districts serving the Appalachian Region. Participants in each READY Appalachia learning track access no-cost training, cohort-based learning, and funding (no match required) to increase their capacity to solve pressing issues and create lasting, positive change in their communities.
ARC has a number of different opportunities that are available to individuals and local governments in order to achieve its goal of economic sustainability and recovery in the region. You can find more information about these programs and what ARC offers at the link below.
