ARC's 2010 Fall Conference to Focus on Role of Educational Assets in Promoting Economic Development

WASHINGTON, October 8, 2010—The Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) 2010 annual conference, Appalachia's Educational Assets: Investing in a Skilled Future, will be held October 25–27 at the Forum Civic Center in Rome, Georgia.

The conference will underscore the role of educational achievement and workforce skills and readiness in growing local economies.

In a joint statement, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and ARC Federal Co-Chair Earl F. Gohl said the "economic challenges the Appalachian Region faces today require creative new approaches to maximizing resources for economic development. This conference will show how building on communities' existing educational assets—both physical and knowledge based—can help strengthen the local economy by attracting investment and creating local jobs."

Presenters at the conference will address topics that include:

• Retooling the workforce
• Using school buildings as centers of community and economic development
• Expanding instructional capacity through technology
• Building a healthy workforce
• Supporting entrepreneurial training

Economic and regional developers, educators, business leaders, local government officials, interested citizens, and the media are invited to attend the conference.

The conference agenda and registration information are available from the ARC Web site at www.arc.gov.