The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Tuesday announced that it is awarding $33.5 million to 12 collaborative, multi-state projects designed to “drive large-scale economic transformation.” One of the groups that will share in the funds is northeast Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountain EMC. Based in Young Harris, it serves Towns, Union and Fannin counties in north Georgia, and Clay and Cherokee counties in western North Carolina.
Funded through ARC’s Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE), these projects bring together more than 145 partners across all 13 Appalachian states to strengthen workforce and educational opportunities, infrastructure and entrepreneurship, according to an ARC news release.
“Additionally, this ARISE funding package includes a $10 million grant to Appalachian Service Project that will build a multi-state network for home repair and disaster response and recovery. This project was developed in the wake of historic flooding in Eastern Kentucky in 2022, but will be critical for current and future recovery, including Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact in Southern Appalachia. Furthermore, this project exemplifies the long-term capacity building support ARC is able to provide for Appalachian communities recovering from natural disasters.”