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ARC In the Region, a weekly snapshot of news, announcements and other tidbits from the Appalachian Regional Commission
ARC NEWS ROUND-UP  |  MAY 26, 2016

In this Issue

 
ARC Spotlight
Appalachia in the News
Investments in Action
Upcoming Events

ARC Spotlight

POWER by the Numbers:
5 Workshops. 850 People. 2 Months.

Photo of Federal Co-Chair Earl Gohl speaking at the POWER Workshop in Tuscaloosa Alabama
“To be successful in diversifying Appalachia’s coal economy, we need to form strong partnerships,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Earl Gohl at an ARC Regional POWER workshop in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. “How will your POWER idea help our Region’s working families and communities thrive?”
 
This week, ARC's POWER team was in Tuscaloosa with the Alabama Department of Community and Economic Affairs at the last of our 5 regional POWER workshops. Over 850 people have participated in these workshops over the past 2 months in Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Each workshop was a community specific opportunity for local leaders, economic developers, and other partners to learn more about how to conceptualize and present successful POWER projects to help revitalize the Region’s coal-impacted communities. Didn’t make it to a workshop? No worries! We’ve also developed a series of webinar videos to help Appalachia’s coal-impacted communities learn more about the application process for POWER implementation grants, available technical assistance, relevant research and data, and information about the how to meet the matching fund requirement. Our final POWER webinar will be held on Wednesday, June 1 at 2:00 p.m., and will be a round-up of some of the frequently asked questions that have come up about the POWER Initiative. Learn more about the $46.2 million available to revitalize Appalachia’s coal-impacted communities at www.arc.gov/POWER. Got a question about the POWER Initiative? Send it to power@arc.gov.
 

Appalachia in the News

Federal Money to Aid Communities Affected by Decline of Coal IndustryTuscaloosa News, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Appalachia Creating Role in Growing New Energy Economy, Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington, Kentucky

Going from the Coal Mines to Pharmacy School, WSAZ TV, Huntington, West Virginia

New Sykesville Waterline Project Deemed a Success, Courier-Express, DuBois, Pennsylvania

Atlanta CDFI: "Take Two" for Minority Entrepreneurs, Next City

Bringing People Together: Rural Is ‘Different,' Not Less, Daily Yonder

Internship available!

ARC is looking for a research intern to help record our investment outcomes and measurements. Apply now!
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INVESTMENTS IN ACTION

West Alabama Works
Hale County has one of the highest unemployment and poverty rates in Alabama. Over the past few months, a collaborative effort that includes West Alabama Works (the Regional Workforce Development Council), Shelton State Community College, and Community Works has brought a mobile training center to community outreach events in small rural churches, grocery store parking lots, and town square to enroll over 170 people in the Hale County Automotive Logistics Partnership. The program includes a rigorous combination of Ready to Work training and adult education to develop a skilled workforce for Alabama’s automotive sector. Community Works is assessing each participant’s educational and skill training needs and developing case management plans to prepare these workers for full-time employment. “Our belief is that we can develop a pipeline strategy that starts with grassroots outreach work,” says Bob Johnson, executive director of Community Works. “Our goal is to build a solid network of community contacts that will allow us to make long-term impact.”
Photo of Johnathon Koh, Congresswoman Terri Sewell, and ARC Program Manager David Hughes
Jonathon Koh (left) of Shelton State Community College shows U.S. Congresswoman Terri Sewell (center) and ARC Program Manager David Hughes (right) the West Alabama Works mobile training unit. ARC helped support this workforce training program in western Alabama.

UPCOMING EVENTS

POWER Initiative Webinar
Frequently Asked Questions on the POWER Initiative
June 1, 2016, 2:00 p.m. ET

Tennessee Valley Corridor National Summit
Cookeville, Tennessee
June 1–2

2016 SOAR Innovation Summit
Pikeville, Kentucky
June 6

Appalachian Higher Education Network 2016 Annual Conference
Kingsport, Tennessee
June 21–23
 
 
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 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.
Appalachian Regional Commission
1666 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20009-1068
www.arc.gov
   |   info@arc.gov

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