Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a United States federal–state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. Congress established ARC to bring the region into socioeconomic parity with the rest of the nation.
Areas included within the Appalachian Regional Commission's charter as of July 2023 | |
| Predecessor | Council of Appalachian Governors, President's Appalachian Regional Commission |
|---|---|
| Formation | March 9, 1965 |
| Type | State–federal partnership |
| Purpose | To innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia. |
| Headquarters | 1666 Connecticut Ave NW Suite 700 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Coordinates | 38.912448°N 77.045374°W |
Federal co-chair | Gayle Conelly Manchin |
States' co-chair | Andy Beshear |
| Brandon McBride | |
Budget | $285,600,000 (2019) |
| Website | www |
The Appalachian Region, as defined by Congress, includes all of West Virginia and portions of 12 other states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. ARC serves 423 counties and 8 independent cities that encompass roughly 205,000 square miles (530,000 km2), with a population of more than 25 million people.
The Appalachian Regional Commission has 14 members: the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a federal co-chair, who is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. A professional staff carries out the work of the Commission.
The current federal co-chair is Gayle Conelly Manchin. Manchin was appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate on April 29, 2021, by voice vote. The 2021 states' co-chair was Virginia Governor Ralph Northam prior to the expiration of his term following the 2021 election. Grassroots participation is provided through 73 local development districts, which are multi-county organizations with boards made up of elected officials, business people, and other local leaders. The ARC is a planning, research, advocacy, and funding organization. It does not have any governing power within the region.