In the Region - July 9, 2026 | Volume 11, Issue 27
ARC NEWS
Applications for Rural Workforce Funding Due July 23
Applications for funding through the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative are due July 23!
Managed by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the WORC Initiative supports community-led grant projects that address workforce and economic development challenges in rural Appalachia and other regions. ✅
Interested applicants can watch our pre-application video series and the DOL’s potential applicant webcast.
COMMUNITY
Paislee Persinger of Fayette County, West Virginia, wants to be an aerospace engineer when she grows up and is looking forward to participating in ARC’s STEM Academy at Oak Ridge National Laboratory next week. 🛩️
$2M in POWER funds will help support Kentucky State University’s new workforce preparation and land restoration efforts in Eastern Kentucky. 🦺 Virginia Tech, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Tennessee State University will also participate.
In Western Maryland, Hagerstown Community College will use $197K to purchase new equipment for its high-demand electrical and HVAC skilled trades programs that are housed within the Bowman Training Center.🔌APPALACHIA IN THE NEWS
Northern Appalachia
Bradford County students complete inaugural Healthcare Careers Summer Experience, The Daily Review
Lackawanna College’s new building starts to take shape in Scranton, The Times-Tribune
Niles Public Square opens to fanfare, Tribune Chronicle
Central Appalachia
A new vision for Franklin, The Franklin Press
As AI moves into the workforce, Radford University awarded federal grant to help New River Valley, WVTF
New River Expedition team lands in Blacksburg, halfway on 320-mile journey, The Roanoke Times
Southern Appalachia
EVENTS
Maryland Grant Application Workshop
July 16, 2026; Cumberland, Maryland
Alabama Grant Application Workshop
July 23, 2026; Montgomery, Alabama
Pennsylvania Grant Application Webinar
August 6, 2026; virtual
2026 SOAR Summit
October 7–9, 2026; Corbin, Kentucky
