The mission of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) 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.
The Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) is an ARC initiative designed to drive large-scale, regional economic transformation in Appalachia through multi-state collaborative projects. With additional funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021, ARISE seeks to strengthen business and industry, fostering new opportunities across the region. The initiative encourages collaborative endeavors between the 13 states within the ARC territory to unify efforts in advancing the ARC’s strategic investment priorities. The grant program includes Planning Grants, with $10 million available in FY23 and awards up to $500,000, and Implementation Grants, with up to $63.5 million available in FY23 and awards reaching $10 million, potentially higher in exceptional cases.