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May 5, 2022 | Volume 7, Issue 18

ARC NEWS
Appalachia Envisioned Roadshow Highlights Culture and Tourism

ARC was back on the road on Tuesday for Stop #2 of the Appalachia Envisioned Roadshow, a virtual five-part event series highlighting how 13 Appalachian states are bringing ARC's 2022-2026 strategic investment priorities to life.

Attendees heard from tourism professionals and community members who are leveraging outdoor recreation and culture to fuel economic growth in Appalachian North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

ARC's Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin also spoke with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, and West Virginia Governor Jim Justice about the tourism industry in their states.

Following the event, ARC announced a new $250,000 multi-state grant to the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority for the Planning For Outdoor Recreation Industry, Vibrant Economies, & Regional Strategy (RIVERS) project, boosting the outdoor industry sector in six Appalachian states.

PARTNER PROFILE
Backroads of Appalachia Live/Work Recovery Housing

Grantee: Backroads of Appalachia

Location: Lynch, Kentucky
Community Need: Safe spaces for women in recovery that are interested in transitioning into a structured home environment to help them stabilize and achieve long-term sobriety.
Solution: Building on community partnerships to expand workforce opportunities and develop safe housing for women seeking recovery, establishing a recovery house with workforce training and live/work opportunities.
Grants Received: $500,000 through an ARC INSPIRE grant
Outcomes: The project is expected to provide recovery housing for up to 12 women and expand Backroads’ current workforce development program to include optional skills training in jobs related to the local tourism industry.

APPALACHIAN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
Appalachian Leaders Talk Tourism

Today, the Appalachian Leadership Institute hosted “Let’s Talk Tourism: A Conversation with Appalachian Leaders,” a Facebook Live discussion featuring current fellows and alumni working to build and advance tourism in Appalachia.

Click below to hear the success stories they shared, as well as tips for applying to be one of our next fellows! Applications for the 2022-2023 class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute are now open and due by June 1.

COMMUNITY
ARC Grants In the News 📰

New River Gorge RIVERS Project

New River Gorge Regional Development Authority in Beckley, WV was granted $250,000 to launch a multi-state outdoor tourism project.

Recovery Community Organization Site Opens

A new center designed to create a safe gathering space for people in recovery in Athens County, OH is funded through the ARC INSPIRE initiatve.

Ignite Portsmouth Entrepreneurial Journey Bootcamp

Shawnee State University's Kricker Innovation Hub will host its second annual Bootcamp this summer, thanks in part to ARC's POWER initative.

AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Bring Free Concerts to Your Community!

The Levitt AMP [Your City] Grant Awards is an exciting grant opportunity bringing the joy of free outdoor concerts to small to mid-sized towns and cities.

Grant recipients will receive a three-year matching grant of $30K per year, for a total grant award of $90K. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2022.

Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities (WORC) Funding Now Available

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the availability of approximately $34.2 million in a fourth round of grant funding for the WORC Initiative, helping workers obtain new opportunities in rural communities.

Grants will range from $150,00 up to $1.5 million. Proposals are due July 8, 2022.