The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a unique federal-state partnership providing social and economic support for a 13-state region stretching along the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York to northern Mississippi.
Established by the United States Congress in 1965, when Appalachia was considered "a region apart" from the rest of the nation, ARC has worked to bring Appalachia's 22 million people into America's economic mainstream.
In North Carolina, ARC supports economic development activities in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Davie, Forsyth, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey counties.
Each year ARC provides funding for projects throughout the Appalachian Region of North Carolina. These projects:
- Improve educational opportunities and workforce skills.
- Improve infrastructure for community and economic development.
- Increase civic and leadership capacity.
- Increase entrepreneurial opportunities.
- Improve health care resources.
Projects approved for ARC assistance must support one of the four general goals :
- Increase job opportunities and per capita income in Appalachia to reach parity with the nation.
- Strengthen the capacity of the people of Appalachia to compete in the global economy.
- Develop and improve Appalachia’s infrastructure to make the Region economically competitive.
- Build the Appalachian Development Highway System to reduce Appalachia’s isolation.
Eligible applicants are public entities (cities, towns, counties, regions, public service districts) and nonprofit organizations.
For additional information about the ARC program, please contact Olivia Collier, NC ARC Program Manager, at (919) 733-2850 or ocollier@nccommerce.com .
Frequently Asked Questions about the ARC Program
ARC Documents
2009 ARC/Oak Ridge Summer Institute
ARC Items of Interest
NC ARC Partners