This week, ARC announced $15.7 million in POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative investments, which directly benefit counties hit hard by the downturn in the coal industry. These 18 new projects in Appalachia’s technology, manufacturing, agriculture, and entrepreneurial industries are expected to create or retain more than 1,700 jobs, benefit nearly 1,200 students and workers, and leverage an additional $64 million. You can find a list of all the new awards here.
“Each one of these awards is a blueprint for new jobs, fresh opportunities, and a robust economic future for Appalachia,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Earl F. Gohl. “Together, these investments bring added capital into the Region and help Appalachia prepare to globally compete in manufacturing, technology, local agriculture, construction, and a variety of other industry sectors.”
ARC POWER investments directly benefit counties hardest hit by job losses in the coal industry. According to ARC research, Appalachia lost a total of 33,500 coal mining jobs between 2011 and 2016, representing 82 percent of America’s job losses in this sector. With this week’s announcement, ARC has invested over $92 million specifically to diversify the economies in 250 coal-impacted counties across 11 Appalachian states in the past year.
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