ARC Funds $15.7M for Former Coal Workers Programs

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced $15.7 million in investments in 18 projects through its Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization POWER initiative. POWER helps grow the economies of coal-impacted communities and support new opportunities for former coal workers.

These new awards will create or retain more than 1,700 jobs in seven Appalachian states. ARC also projects they will benefit nearly 1,200 students and workers, and leverage an additional $64 million of investment to the Appalachian Region. Investments were made in projects in Alabama, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia.

“Each one of these awards is a blueprint for new jobs, fresh opportunities and a robust economic future for Appalachia,” said Earl F. Gohl, ARC’s co-chair.

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.”

The POWER program puts federal resources behind communities and regions that have been affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations and coal-related supply chain industries due to declines in coal energy production.

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, according to ARC. More than 67 percent of these jobs — more than 22,500 jobs — occurred in coalfield counties in eastern Kentucky and West Virginia.

In total, ARC’s investments are projected to create or retain almost 8,600 jobs, benefit more than 25,400 workers and students and leverage more than $206 million for the region’s economy.

Access details about the funded projects on ARC’s website.