ARC Announces New Substance Abuse Initiatives Grant Competition

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2011—The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has announced the 2011 Competition for Community-Based Substance Abuse Initiatives, a program that will provide training, technical assistance, and a total of $150,000 in grants to 30 community-based substance abuse coalitions in the most economically distressed areas of Appalachia.

Beginning April 13, ARC will accept letters of interest from local coalitions that are ready and able to expand efforts to combat substance abuse in their communities. Selected coalitions will participate in program activities intended to support and expand local substance abuse partnerships. Grant awards in the amount of $5,000 each will be targeted to performance-oriented local projects that use evidence-based approaches to prevention, intervention, or treatment.

Community-based coalitions or other organizations are eligible for the competition. Applicants must be located in and serve one of 196 counties that ARC has designated as "distressed" or "at-risk" for 2011 and/or 2012. Letters of interest must be submitted no later than Monday, May 16, 2011, and winners will be announced by May 27.

The 2011 Competition for Community-Based Substance Abuse Initiatives will be completed through a cooperative effort with East Tennessee State University's Office of Rural and Community Health and Community Partnerships.

More information about the grant competition, including application materials and a list of eligible counties, is available on the ARC Web site.