State of Alabama

1. State of Alabama

2. Appalachian Regional Commission Program

3. APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION (ARC) The ARC was created by Congress in 1965 to address the economic disparity between the 13 Appalachian States and the rest of the United States. The Commission is a partnership of federal, state, and local communities. ARC’s strategic plan identifies five investment goals to advance it’s mission of innovating, partnering, and investing to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in the ARC region.

4. Alabama’s Appalachian Region includes the 37 northern-most counties. These are Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Macon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Pickens, Randolph, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston.

5. Local Development Districts (LDDs) • West Alabama Regional Commission • Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham • Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments • Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments • North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments • South Central Alabama Development Commission • Central Alabama Regional Planning Commission • East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission

6. Local Development Districts (LDDs) • Local partners • Active and essential part of the ARC partnership • Operated by a board of directors • Available to provide technical assistance and assistance in the preparation of grant applications

7. COUNTY DESIGNATIONS • Attainment • Transitional • At-Risk • Distressed

8. MATCH PERCENTAGES • Attainment – Ineligible • Transitional – 50% • At-Risk – 30% • Distressed – 20%

9. AVAILABLE FUNDS • Area Development – Approximately $4 million • Distressed – Approximately $900,000 • Southern Appalachia Automotive & Aviation Workforce – Approximately $5.6 million

10. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS • State and local governments • Non-profit organizations • Institutions of higher education

11. GRANT CEILING $200,000

12. ARC INVESTMENT PRIORITIES

13. ALABAMA’S ARC OBJECTIVES • ARC Investment Goal 1: Economic Opportunities • Stimulate growth of the region’s businesses • Increase international exports from the ARC region • Assist redevelopment of central business districts (CBD) and support projects which will enhance the long-term development of the CBD areas • Support business expansions, start-ups and entrepreneurship

14. ARC Investment Goal 2: Ready Workforce • Increase educational attainment and achievement • Increase workforce skills through training • Promote healthcare initiatives

15. ARC Investment Goal 3: Critical Infrastructure • Assist in the development of a modern communications/broadband network that includes voice, data, and video • Assist in the development of a balanced transportation system, which reduces isolation in the region • Support building and enhancing basic infrastructure including water and sewer

16. ARC Investment Goal 4: Natural and Cultural Assets • Support the increase of employment and sales in the travel and heritage tourism industry, particularly in the areas of outdoor recreation, convention attractions, and historical interest

17. ARC Investment Goal 5: Leadership and Community Capacity • Enhance the capacity of local municipalities to plan for economic and community development • Support provision of training opportunities to enhance the leadership skills of local officials and private nonprofit groups tasked with providing services to the community