In the Region - April 16, 2026 | Volume 11, Issue 15
ARC NEWS
Applications Open Now: Appalachian Leadership Institute
Appalachians are leading the way to strengthen economic development in their communities!
We’re accepting applications now for our Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI), which trains people who live or work in the region to:
💡 Identify and implement strategies to improve infrastructure, workforce development, tourism and more
🌳 Recognize and utilize unique assets in their communities to stimulate the economy
🙏 Collaborate with other leaders to plan for long-term economic growth
ALI, at no cost to participants, focuses on economic development skill-building, mentoring and collaboration. Six multi-day seminars will take place across the region from October 2026 to June 2027, concluding with a graduation ceremony in Binghamton, New York.
Applications for the 2026-2027 class are open through June 1, 2026!
Learn more and apply now: www.arc.gov/leadership
Don't Delay: Register for Our Annual Conference ⌛
Only a few spots remain for our 2026 Annual Conference, Appalachia Builds: Breaking New Ground for Economic Growth!
Attendees will learn from successful economic development efforts across the Appalachian Region.
Register now to join us June 2–4 in Starkville, Mississippi.
COMMUNITY
ARC will soon be accepting applications for INSPIRE, our initiative addressing the economic impacts of substance use disorder. Stay tuned for more details next week! 🌟
Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin spoke at Share the Vision, hosted by Marshall University’s Center of Excellence for Recovery in Huntington, West Virginia. The conference celebrated 30 years of statewide prevention efforts and explored strategies for continued success. 🤝
Last week, transportation and economic development experts convened for Network Appalachia in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This strategic advisory group was formed by ARC to share transportation best practices to link the region to local, national and global economic opportunities. 🚚APPALACHIA IN THE NEWS
Northern Appalachia
$685K in federal funding to support projects in Western Maryland, WBAL
Construction of new Lackawanna College building foundation underway, The Times-Tribune
Central Appalachia
KYCOM awarded grant to expand simulation lab, Mountain Top Media
West Virginia Career Collaborative targets STEM talent retention with ARC POWER grant, The Preston County News & Journal
Southern Appalachia
MSU cuts ribbon on automated composite stitching cell, Mississippi State University
EVENTS
Pathways Office Hours
April 20 & April 29, 2026; virtual
2026 ARC Annual Conference, Appalachia Builds: Breaking New Ground for Economic Growth
June 2–4, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi
Spots are limited!
