Overview
The Appalachian Regional Commission was established by Congress in 1965 to promote growth and to improve the quality of life in the thirteen Appalachian States. Thirty-seven of Alabama’s counties are included in the ARC region, and the local participation is facilitated by eight local development districts.
The development organization for the ARC program in Alabama functions within the Governor’s Office. Administration responsibilities for the development programs of the ARC are assigned by the Governor to the ADECA Director. As such, the Director serves as an Alternate State Member of the Commission.
ARC invests in activities that address at least one of five goals:
- Invest in entrepreneurial and business development strategies
- Increase the education, knowledge, skills, and health of residents
- Invest in critical infrastructure especially broadband, water/wastewater systems, and transportation including the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS)
- Leverage the region’s natural and cultural heritage assets
- Build the capacity and skills of current and next generation leaders and organizations.
ARC projects require a varying degree of match from 20 percent to 50 percent depending on the level of distress in the county.
ARC administers all non-construction projects, and construction projects are managed by a federal basic agency or the state. ARC grants jointly funded with CDBG projects are managed by the ADECA CDBG staff, stand-alone ARC construction projects with other federal funds are managed by the federal agency, and stand-alone construction projects without other federal funds are managed under contract by a consultant.
The ARC’s POWER (Partnership for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) program is a congressionally-funded initiative that provides resources to assist communities and regions adversely 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. POWER supports efforts to create a more vibrant economic future for coal-impacted communities by cultivating economic diversity, enhancing job training and re-employment opportunities, creating jobs, and attracting new sources of investment.
The Local Development Districts (LDDs) are our local partners and are an active and essential part of the ARC partnership. There are eight LDDs in Alabama’s Appalachian Region, and each LDD operates under a Board of Directors composed of elected representatives from the various local governments.
Alabama’s Appalachian Region includes the 37 northern-most counties. These counties are: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Macon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Pickens, Randolph, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston.
News
ARC Seeking Applicants for Leadership Development Program Focused on Multi-Sector Economic Development
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is now accepting applications for the eighth class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI), an eight-month leadership development training opportunity with a focus on economic development in Appalachia. Anyone living or working in Appalachia’s 423 counties is eligible to apply.
The program, at no cost to participants, focuses on skill-building, mentoring and collaboration to grow Appalachia’s economic future. The curriculum comprises six multi-day seminars across Appalachia, each focusing on one of ARC’s investment priorities, and concludes with a graduation ceremony in Binghamton, New York.
From October 2026 to June 2027, the eighth cohort of fellows will learn to:
- Recognize and utilize unique assets in their communities to build economic development plans.
- Identify and implement strategies to strengthen their communities through improved infrastructure, business development, workforce development, tourism and community skill-building.
- Collaborate with a network of leaders across Appalachia on strategies to expand the region’s future growth.
The Appalachian Leadership Institute is limited to 40 fellows each year and includes participants from each of the 13 Appalachian states. Applicants may be from the public, private or non-profit sectors, and each class represents a wide network of experiences.
Upon completion of the program, fellows automatically join the ALI Alumni Network, a peer-to-peer working group committed to collaborative solutions that strengthen Appalachia. The alumni network provides an opportunity to stay connected to the network of more than 200 ALI alumni and to continue learning from leaders in Appalachian economic development.
Applications for the 2026-2027 class are open through June 1, 2026. To learn more about the program and apply, visit: arc.gov/leadership.
ARC Seeking Applicants for Projects Supporting Appalachians in Recovery from Substance Use Disorder
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) issued a notice of solicitation of applications (NOSA) for its Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative. INSPIRE supports projects that create or expand recovery ecosystems that help individuals in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) enter or reenter the workforce.
Key dates for the fiscal year 2026 INSPIRE application process include:
- April 23, 2026: Pre-application webinar recording
- April 29, 2026: NOSA Q&A session – Register now!
- By May 5, 2026: Register for Pathways, ARC’s grant management system, to ensure access to the application portal
- May 12, 2026: Required letters of intent (LOI) due
- June 15, 2026: Grant applications due
- Fall 2026: Awards announced
Learn more about ARC’s INSPIRE Initiative, the 2026 NOSA and how to apply.
Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) issued a notice of solicitation of applications (NOSA) for its fiscal year (FY) 2026 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.
Key dates for the fiscal year 2026 POWER application process include:
- May 5, 2026: NOSA and pre-application webinar recording released on arc.gov/power
- May 15, 2026: Register for Pathways, ARC’s grant management system, to ensure access to the application portal
- May 22, 2026 (5:00 p.m. ET): Required letters of intent (LOI) due
- July 8, 2026 (5:00 p.m. ET): Grant applications due
- Winter 2027: Awards announced
Award recipients for the previous FY 2025 funding cycle will be announced this summer, followed by recipients for the FY 2026 funding in Winter 2027.
Learn more about ARC’s POWER Initiative, the FY 2026 NOSA, and how to apply.
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