On February 12, 2020, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced nearly $3.3 million in investments via the POWER Initiative to continue supporting economic diversification in the Region’s coal-impacted communities. This week’s awards include: $1.5 million to Southern Tier Network in Corning, New York to expand the Southern Tier of New York’s existing high-speed dark fiber optic ring; $1,000,000 to the Somerset County Commissioners in Somerset, Pennsylvania, to assist with construction of the new detox unit of the Twin Lakes Center which treats individuals suffering from substance use disorder; and $733,000 to Opportunity Alabama, Inc. in Birmingham, Alabama to build local capacity to effectively prepare for Opportunity Fund investment. With today’s announcement, ARC has invested over $193 million in 242 POWER projects benefiting over 80 percent of Appalachia’s counties.
“These three investments in Appalachian communities well-represent the breadth of the work ARC is doing through the POWER Initiative,” said ARC Federal Co-Chairman Tim Thomas. “Whether it’s funding important broadband infrastructure to ensure citizens and businesses have competitive internet access, investing in facilities for individuals navigating the substance abuse recovery to work process, or helping communities capitalize on the transformative change Opportunity Zones can provide, POWER is helping change the narrative for coal-impacted Appalachia.”
ARC is currently accepting applications in response to the POWER 2020 Request for Proposals (RFP). Required Letters of Intent are due 5 p.m. (ET) February, 28, 2020. Final applications are due 5 pm (ET) March 27, 2020. Additional guidance on application submission is available at www.arc.gov/power