In The Region - September 10, 2026 | Volume 11, Issue 36
ARC NEWS
Broadband Access Survey and Listening Sessions
According to the 2026 ARC Chartbook, nearly 88% of Appalachian households have a broadband internet subscription. This lags behind the national rate, 91%.
You can help ARC better understand broadband opportunities and challenges that impact Appalachia’s economic future by completing a short survey today! 🌐
Quick surveys are available for:
🔦 Infrastructure and deployment experts
Interested in sharing more? Check out our events page for upcoming broadband virtual listening sessions. 📅
COMMUNITY
Boonsboro, Maryland, will use $250K in ARC funds to inspect 20K linear feet of sewer mains, identify infiltration sources and install cured-in-place pipelining in deteriorated sections. This will prevent overflows during heavy rain, reduce treatment costs and improve wastewater service to 40+ businesses and 475 households. 🚾
The Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission has awarded $50K through 17 mini-grants to school districts, career and technical centers, businesses and community organizations across Appalachian Pennsylvania to create work-based learning opportunities for K–12 students. 💡
ARC grantee Friends of Southwest Virginia hosted 200 attendees at the third Blue Ridge Rising Two-State Summit in Asheville, North Carolina, late last month. Attendees, representing the 29 counties that border the Blue Ridge Parkway, explored paths for regional collaboration in tourism, outdoor recreation and more. 🛣️
APPALACHIA IN THE NEWS
Northern Appalachia
Central Appalachia
Southern Appalachia
Saluda Grade Trail plans taking shape for first 5 miles in SC, Greenville Journal
EVENTS
Broadband Listening Session 1: Community Experience & Economic Opportunity
September 16, 2026; virtual
Broadband Listening Session 2: Infrastructure, Technology & Deployment Reality
September 30, 2026; virtual
October 7–9, 2026; Corbin, Kentucky
Appalachian United Outdoors: Virtual Learning & Networking
October 8 & November 5, 2026; virtual
Broadband Listening Session 3: Capacity, Funding & Future Digital Economy
October 14, 2026; virtual
