The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) recently announced 90 local government entities, representing 12 Appalachian states, have been selected to participate in READY Local Governments. One of four tailored tracks under ARC’s capacity-building initiative, READY Appalachia, READY Local Governments is designed to help participants leverage federal funding opportunities and create lasting, positive change in their communities.
READY Local Governments participants will be involved in nine weeks of virtual, cohort-based learning to grow their skills in project identification and planning, federal grant application development, federal grant regulations and compliance, community engagement in projects, and more.
“ARC’s local government partners have always been the backbone of our on-the-ground work throughout our Appalachian communities,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “Through our READY LocalGovernments initiative, we are proud to help these partners enhance their work through training, resources, and expanded support because when our local communities thrive, the entire Appalachian Region succeeds.”
Eight of the 90 local government entities selected are located in the OhioSE region. They are:
- The city of Coshocton and the village of West Lafayette in Coshocton County.
- The village of Leesville in Carroll County.
- The village of New Concord in Muskingum County.
- The city of Jackson and the city of Wellston in Jackson County.
- The village of Amesville in Athens County.
- The Meigs County commissioners.
A majority of participants represent at least one of the following:
- Distressed areas and census tracts.
- Interagency working group on Coal and Power Plant Communities—priority communities.
- Rural Partners Network, Community Networks communities.
- Historically underserved and marginalized populations.
Following the completion of the training program, participants will be eligible to apply for up to $50,000 in funding (no match required) to implement internal capacity-building projects to help them better serve communities.
Since the launch of READY Appalachiain July 2022, ARC has provided training and funding to help nonprofit organizations build internal capacity to better serve their communities. Opportunities for philanthropic organizations in the Appalachian Region will be available through READY Foundations later this year.
“We are extremely proud of all participants representing the Ohio Southeast Economic Development region,” said Katy Farber, OhioSE vice president. “We hope to see these communities continue to thrive as they tap into the resources and funding being extended to them.”
Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) is the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern, eastern, and southeastern Ohio, providing economic development work and resources in 25 rural counties. Geographically the largest of the seven regions across the state, OhioSE partners closely with regional development districts, local economic development offices, state agencies, and other entities to expand, retain, and attract businesses in the counties they serve.
