ARC – Appalachian Regional Commission – Seeks Applicants for Economic Revitalization Projects in Appalachia’s Coal Communities
Letters of intent are due September 12, 2025 for funding through ARC’s POWER Initiative, which creates new opportunities in Appalachian coal communities.
About the role
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) issued a notice of solicitation of applications (NOSA) for its Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative. POWER offers federal grant funding for projects that help Appalachian coal communities expand local and regional economies by creating high-quality, in-demand jobs, attracting new sources of private investment, and providing comprehensive workforce services and skills training.
Since its creation 10 years ago, ARC’s collective POWER investments are projected to have created or retained nearly 54,000 jobs and prepared nearly 170,000 workers and students for new opportunities in advanced manufacturing, entrepreneurship, tourism, agriculture, and other growing industries.
Responsibilities
- Demonstrate the ability to produce varied economic development outcomes, including broadening local and regional economic bases
- Create stable employment opportunities
- Expand workforce service and skills training
- Attract new sources of public and private investment
- Integrate activities with existing economic development strategies or help implement these strategies on a local, regional, or federal level
Key dates
- August 21, 2025 (10:00 a.m. ET): Pre-application webinar
- September 12, 2025 (5:00 p.m. ET): Mandatory letters of intent (LOI) due
- October 22, 2025 (5:00 p.m. ET): Grant applications due
- May 2026: Awards announced
About The Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development entity of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.
Since POWER was established, ARC has invested $485 million in 564 projects to help revitalize 365 Appalachian counties.