In The Region - October 22, 2026 | Volume 11, Issue 42
ARC NEWS
$43M+ for Rural Communities in Five Appalachian States
Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor, in partnership with ARC, announced more than $43M in Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative funds for rural communities throughout the Appalachian Region.
WORC supports community-driven projects that tackle local workforce and economic development needs in rural areas.
WORC awards in Appalachia:
• Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc., Kentucky – $6M
• New River Mount Rogers Workforce Investment Area Consortium, Virginia – $8M
• The 1982 Foundation, West Virginia – $5.8M
• Tri County Jobs for Ohio Graduates, Ohio – $8M
• Tuskegee University, Alabama – $7.5M
• United Steelworkers, Ohio – $8M
COMMUNITY
One project selected to receive a WORC award will use nearly $8M to fund Appalachian Advancement: Building Career Mobility and Talent Pipelines. ☝️ The three-year initiative will help residents of Appalachian Virginia advance their careers and businesses develop the talent they need to grow.
The future of aviation is coming to Appalachia! 🛩️ An ARC-supported study from Ohio University found that an emerging generation of electric aircraft, collectively known as Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), could bring major economic benefits to the region while requiring minimal infrastructure investment.
APPALACHIA IN THE NEWS
Northern Appalachia
Berwick receives $40K grant to plan walking routes, NorthcentralPA.com
NTRPDC starts new programs to help businesses and the public, The Daily Review
Pedestrian bridge over Mahoning River in Warren now open, WYTV
Central Appalachia
Friends of Southwest Virginia to launch free tourism training program this month, WCYB
Monroe County celebrates progress of Appalachia Ecotone project, The Times Leader
Leveraging TNECD programs can transform communities, Tennessee Town & City
Room to grow: The Industrial Commons breaks ground on the innovation campus, WNC Business
Southern Appalachia
EVENTS
Economic Development Impacts of Completed ADHS Corridors
October 27, 2026; virtual
Appalachian United Outdoors: Virtual Learning & Networking
November 5, 2026; virtual
