Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a regional economic development agency that represents a partnership of federal, state, and local governments. Established by an act of Congress in 1965, ARC is composed of the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a federal co-chair, who is appointed by the President. ARC provides financial investment and technical assistance to eligible applicants in support of community and economic development in Georgia’s 37-county Appalachian region.

A map of Georgia’s Appalachian region is available in the "Publications" section of the Documents and Downloads page.

ARC invests in activities that address the five goals identified in the Commission's strategic plan 2022-2026: 

• Goal 1: Building Appalachian Businesses
  Strengthen and diversify the Region’s economy through inclusive economic development strategies and investments in entrepreneurship and business development.
• Goal 2: Building Appalachia’s Workforce Ecosystem
  Expand and strengthen community systems (education, healthcare, housing, childcare, and others) that help Appalachians obtain a job, stay on the job, and advance along a financially sustaining career pathway.
• Goal 3: Building Appalachia’s Infrastructure
  Ensure that the residents and businesses of Appalachia have access to reliable and affordable utilities and infrastructure in order to successfully live and work in the Region.
• Goal 4: Building Regional Culture and Tourism
  Strengthen Appalachia’s community and economic development potential by preserving and investing in the Region’s local, cultural heritage, and natural assets.
• Goal 5: Building Community Leaders and Capacity
  Invest in the capacity of local leaders, organizations, and communities to address local challenges by providing technical assistance and support to access resources, engage partners, identify strategies and tactics, and conduct effective planning and project execution.

Georgia will invest in projects consistent with those priorities identified in Georgia’s Four Year Development Plan and the Governor's Annual State Strategy Statement. These documents are available in the Publications section of the Documents and Downloads page.

Application Procedures:

• All parties interested in ARC investment must complete a pre-application in advance of proceeding to the full application. The necessary pre-application document is available in the Applications Section of the Documents and Downloads page. This document is the only approved method of pre-application for funding.
• Eligible organizations may submit a complete application at any time after approval of the pre-application. Prior to submission of a pre-application, please contact [email protected] for technical assistance.