ARC Awards $33.5 M to accelerate economic growth across 13 Appalachian states

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded $33.5 million to 12 collaborative, multi-state projects designed to drive large-scale economic transformation. Funded through ARC’s Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE), these projects bring together more than 145 partners across all 13 Appalachian states to strengthen workforce and educational opportunities, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship. Four of the 12 awards have direct ties to innovation and tech-based economic development.

Among the recipients are: 

DRIVE received $189,720 to evaluate the viability of establishing a multi-state network of rural incubators to provide resources to support and grow small businesses in rural areas in six Appalachian states. DRIVE and partners bring a combined $138,289 in matching funds. Click here to see their project snapshot.

Tennessee Tech University received $500,000 to develop a plan to establish an Appalachian quantum network (AQN). They plan to conduct a feasibility study, expand partnerships, design a workforce development plan, and develop a business plan. Tennessee Tech University and partners Virginia Tech University and Pennsylvania State University bring $488,982 in matching funds to the project. Click here to see their project snapshot.

The University of Pittsburgh received $292,800 to develop a plan to grow biotech and healthcare sectors in southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In collaboration with 14 partners, they plan to create a roadmap for increasing workforce development opportunities, supporting local businesses, and attracting new industries to increase equitable access to high-quality job opportunities—impacting 65 counties. The University of Pittsburgh and its partner, West Virginia University, bring $187,200 in matching funds to this project. Click here to see their project snapshot.

Volunteer Energy Coop received $10,000,000. Along with North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation and Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation will use ARISE funds to collectively deploy up to 5 MW and 20 MWh of utility-scale batteries, growing the "Battery Belt" in Appalachia by building the demand and supply of non-lithium batteries throughout the Region. Partners will also work with Tennessee Tech University and its ARISE-funded HILLTOP grid modeling project partners to virtually model different non-lithium battery technologies to determine which best meets its strategic objectives. VEC and partners bring a combined $8,000,000 in matching funds to this project. Click here to see their project snapshot.

A complete list of awardees and details of their projects is available here.

These awards comprise the largest single award package ARC has invested through ARISE to date. ARC has now invested $121.8 million in 46 ARISE projects to support the development of new economic opportunities across all 13 Appalachian states.

To learn more about ARISE, click here.