Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Area Development
🏛 Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
Can you apply?
This grant is for economic and community development projects in the Appalachian Region. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, local governments, and community organizations in the 13-state Appalachian region spanning from New York to Mississippi. Projects must address workforce development, infrastructure, health care access, education, or community planning. All or part of the applicant's service area must fall within the defined Appalachian region for eligibility.
Program description
The Appalachian Region, as defined in ARC’s authorizing legislation, is a 205,000-square-mile region that follows the spine of the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York to northern Mississippi. It includes all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Each year in Pennsylvania, ARC provides funding for numerous projects in the Appalachian Region in a wide range of program areas. The projects funded in the program areas create thousands of new jobs, improve local water and sewer systems, increase school readiness, expand access to health care, assist local communities with strategic planning and provide technical and managerial assistance to emerging businesses.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Project narrative describing need, goals, and implementation plan
- Budget and budget narrative
- Letters of support from local governments or community stakeholders
- Project timeline with milestones
- Organizational capacity documentation (financial statements, management team)
FAQ
Which states are eligible for ARC funding?
The 13-state Appalachian region includes all of West Virginia and parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
What types of projects can be funded?
Eligible projects include water/sewer infrastructure, workforce training, health care expansion, school readiness programs, strategic planning, and business technical assistance.
Who can apply for this funding?
Nonprofits, local governments, and community organizations serving the Appalachian region are typically eligible. Check with the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development for specific organizational requirements.
How competitive is this grant?
ARC funding is moderately competitive. Strongest applications demonstrate clear community need, realistic implementation plans, and local support or matching resources.
When is the deadline?
Contact the Pennsylvania DCED for current application deadlines and timeline information, as deadlines may vary by funding round.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Connect your project to regional economic development priorities and job creation impact.
- Document community need with local data and stakeholder support letters from county/municipal officials.
- Show clear outcomes: number of jobs created, infrastructure capacity improved, or residents served.
- Include a detailed implementation timeline and qualified project management capacity.
- Align your project with Pennsylvania's strategic priorities for Appalachian communities.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Vague job creation projections without workforce assessment data. Insufficient documentation of community need or local government buy-in. Unclear budget narrative or incomplete project scope definition.
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