ARC: Appalachian people deserve more
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As a holiday gift to Appalachia's 26.3 million residents, the Appalachian Regional Commission this week released a report detailing what it has done for them over the past few years. According to the ARC, "The report highlights 10 successful grant projects as case studies, demonstrating the impact of the strategies used to address community challenges."
That is ten highlighted out of 220 business development projects evaluated in "Making Connections for Stronger Businesses and Resilient Communities: Evaluation of ARC Business Development Grants Closed Between 2017-2021."
So, what did ARC do for us between 2017 and 2021? It says its investment in those projects "facilitated the creation or RETAINMENT" (emphasis ours) of 29,352 jobs and the establishment of 1,944 new businesses in Appalachia.
ARC says during those years, 85% of grant projects were reported as being entirely or mostly successful; and 66% of projects continued beyond the close of their grant.
Perhaps that is because, as ARC points out, its grant-funded projects also attracted $923 million in private investments in the 423 counties it covers, over the five-year period.
West Virginia projects highlighted in the report are the Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority and Coalfield Development Corporation.
"While there is still much work to be done to bring economic parity to the entire Appalachian region, I am proud of the progress across our 13 states as a result of ARC's business development grants," said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. "As we look forward, I believe that Appalachia will continue to be a leader in this country as our job training and entrepreneurship opportunities develop and expand. I'm eager to see all the growth the future holds for the region's 26 million residents."
Since 1965 -- it's been nearly 60 years! -- the ARC has talked in terms of having much work left to do, and looking forward. For the fiscal year 2024 federal budget, the agency requested "$235 million to fund the programmatic activities ... This represents an 18% increase from the amount appropriated by Congress for FY 2022," according to its own FY 2024 Budget Congressional Justification. So, there is growth somewhere, anyway.
While the hard-working people of Appalachia will take any help they can get, they could certainly be getting more from this agency that has become the very picture of bureaucracy existing to serve itself rather than working to complete its mission. Manchin is right. It will be Appalachia's PEOPLE, training for new kinds of jobs and taking new risks on diversified entrepreneurial opportunities who serve as an example for the rest of the country.