In the Region - June 18, 2026 | Volume 11, Issue 24

Written By Brian Williamson

ARC NEWS

Second-Lowest Number of Distressed Counties in 20+ Years

ARC’s fiscal year 2027 economic status designations for Appalachia’s 423 counties are out now, with two improvements of note:

☝️ The number of counties at risk of being economically distressed dropped by five.

📈 The number of counties that are economically competitive with other non-Appalachian counties increased by four.

We use these designations to set grant match rates, monitor trends and direct investments to the region's most distressed communities.

Work remains to ensure Appalachia’s economies can attain parity with others in the nation. Overall, 76 counties are designated as distressed, 85 as at-risk, 240 as transitional and 18 as competitive. Four counties have reached attainment.

View the FY 2027 map and data. 📍

COMMUNITY

Work is proceeding on several key water projects in McDowell County, West Virginia. 🚰 Among them is the Jolo Waterline Extension Project, which will add 61K linear feet of public water infrastructure across four communities. ARC contributed nearly $350K to the project.

$1.5M in ARC POWER funding will support the new Regional Health Care Employment Ecosystem (RHEE) Collaborative. 🩺 This project will create career opportunities for residents in 14 counties across Appalachian Pennsylvania.

Officials in West Virginia are touting the economic and community benefits of investments by ARC and others into the Parkersburg to Pittsburg Corridor. The 238-mile multi-use continuous trail is promoting connectivity and business growth across Central Appalachia. 💨

In Western North Carolina, Land of Sky Regional Council is investing in “beehive microgrids.” 🔌 These specialty trailers provide portable emergency services like electricity and refrigeration to residents and businesses during recovery from hurricanes and other disasters.

AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES

Pathways Office Hours on June 23

Questions about ARC’s grant management system, Pathways? Register for a virtual office hours session on Tuesday, June 23, at 1 p.m. ET.

Users can also access helpful resources on our site.

Due July 23: Applications for Rural Workforce Funding

The U.S. Department of Labor is inviting applications from the Appalachian Region for funding through the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative. ✅

The WORC Initiative supports community-led grant projects that address identified workforce and economic development challenges in rural Appalachia and other regions. 

Applications are due July 23. Watch a pre-application webinar to learn more.

APPALACHIA IN THE NEWS

Northern Appalachia

Central Appalachia

Southern Appalachia

Learn about Appalachia’s subregions

EVENTS

Pathways Office Hours
June 23, 2026; virtual

Orientation to Appalachian Region Healthcare Technical Assistance Center (ARH-TAC)
July 9, 2026; virtual

Maryland Grant Workshop
July 16, 2026; Cumberland, Maryland

Alabama Grant Workshop
July 23, 2026; Montgomery, Alabama

2026 SOAR Summit
October 7–9, 2026; Corbin, Kentucky

Brian Williamson

Creative and strategic Website & Graphic Designer with 15+ years of experience in design,
branding, and marketing leadership. Proven track record in team management, visual
storytelling, and building cohesive brand identities across print and digital platforms. Adept at
developing innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, drive sales, and elevate user
experiences.

https://www.limegroupllc.com/
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In the Region - June 11, 2026 | Volume 11, Issue 23