Appalachian Regional Commission Notice of Funding Opportunity

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is making available Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) funding in Georgia’s ARC 37-county-footprint. Applications for ARC funding for Fiscal Year 2027 are due to DCA on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. 

Pre-applications must be submitted to [email protected] by Friday, October 9, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

Funding Limits 

The maximum funding is $1,000,000 per project. All necessary match requirements are in effect. 

Eligible Projects 

Proposals must address one of ARC’s investment goals as stated in its strategic plan, as well as Georgia’s investment priorities as stated in the Georgia State Strategy Statement. 

Please note: Full construction applications require a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) or Preliminary Architectural Report (PAR). The report must be prepared by a qualified professional procured through the appropriate competitive process. 

ARC Strategic Plan Goals 

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, affordable, resilient, and energy efficient utilities and infrastructure 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, identifying strategies and tactics, and conduct effective planning and project execution. 

Georgia Investment Priorities 

Downtown Development: ARC Goals One (Economic Opportunities), Three (Critical Infrastructure) and Four (Natural and Cultural Assets) all support this regional priority. As Georgia’s small businesses and rural communities work to strengthen their economic resilience, ARC funds can assist by supporting projects that create and retain jobs, strengthen existing businesses, help create new businesses, improve the quality of life in communities, and reimagine how businesses will be successful in Georgia’s rural, small and medium Appalachian cities. 

New, Improved, or Enhanced Infrastructure: ARC Goal Three (Critical Infrastructure) supports this ongoing priority for Appalachian Georgia. Many rural governments are continuing to attract new industry and business locations, and many others are working to create the necessary capacity to support new development. ARC funds can assist with infrastructure improvements to continue to strengthen and grow our economy. This may include activities supporting the creation of affordable, workforce housing initiatives aimed at supplying the inventory necessary to enable business growth and expansion within Georgia’s ARC region. As Georgia continues to be a leader in industrial innovation, including alternative energy sources and EV production, DCA-ARC will support energy innovation projects to increase Georgia’s capacity to provide necessary power to new and emerging technologies. 

Creating Resilient Communities: ARC Goal Five (Leadership and Community Capacity) supports this priority. Both the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs continue to prioritize projects that are part of larger plans, either of local governments or authorities. Several of Georgia’s ARC counties have invested in long-range planning activities, many with ARC’s investment. Georgia will continue to invest ARC funds in support of planning activities at a local and regional level. 

Support Local Rural Economies: ARC Goals One (Economic Opportunities) and Four (Natural and Cultural Resources) support this ongoing priority for the region. Much of North Georgia is federally or state protected land and is a constant attraction for myriad outdoor activities. Many rural communities in Georgia’s Appalachian Region rely on tourism-based business, while others are working to diversify local economies through a variety of strategies. Georgia will use its ARC funds, as applicable, to support emerging economic activities in the 37-county region. 

Workforce Development: ARC Goal Two (Ready Workforce) supports this priority. Across the 37-county region, Georgia’s manufacturers and businesses are seeking employees to fill existing vacancies. Projects that help citizens increase or enhance their skills, provide apprenticeships that benefit both employers and employees, or provide support to employees to remain employed are necessary to build and keep a strong, resilient Appalachian economy. 

Eligible Applicants: Local units of government, including authorities, non-profit organizations as recognized by federal and state law, public or non-profit educational and healthcare organizations. 

Georgia’s County Economic Status for Fiscal Year 2027 (as determined by ARC) 

Distressed (80%-20% match): Chattooga 

At-Risk (70%-30% match): Elbert, Franklin 

Transitional (50%-50% match): Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Dade, Douglas, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Habersham, Haralson, Hart, Heard, Lumpkin, Madison, Murray, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, Walker, White, Whitfield 

Competitive (30%-70% match): Dawson, Hall, Jackson, Paulding 

Attainment (not eligible for ARC funding): Cherokee, Forsyth 

With questions, contact Annaka Woodruff at [email protected]. To learn more about ARC, visit dca.georgia.gov.