ARC, EDA Announce Nearly $65M in POWER Funds for Coal-Impacted Communities

This week, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that FY 2016 funds for the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) program are now available. Now in its second year, POWER is a multi-agency effort to invest federal economic and workforce development resources in communities and regions negatively impacted by changes in the coal economy. In total, the EDA is making an additional $19.6 million available for POWER project grants under the agency’s Economic Adjustment Assistance program, while the ARC is making $45 million available under the Appalachian Area Development Program.

There is no pre-defined eligibility list of impacted coal communities, though POWER funds are intended for those regions that can demonstrate how changes in the coal economy may result in job losses and layoffs in sectors such as coal mining, coal-fired power plants, and/or related manufacturing/ transportation logistics supply chain businesses and industries.  EDA expects to make individual POWER grants ranging between $250,000 and $1.5 million, on average, while the ARC expects to make individual grant awards between $500,000 and $1.5 million specifically for projects in the Congressionally-defined Appalachian Region, according to the announcement. There are no submission deadlines for this funding opportunity.

Those interested are also encouraged to view the POWER program’s “What’s New” page for additional information, including a summary overview of POWER 2016 and a POWER 2016 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.