West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller Honored by the Development District Association of Appalachia with “Lifetime of Service” Award March 2014

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2014—U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller received the Development District Association of Appalachia's (DDAA) first Lifetime of Service Award on March 25 for his dedicated service to the people of West Virginia and the 13-state Appalachian Region. Making the award presentation at the Hart Senate Office Building were DDAA officials and Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Federal Co-Chair Earl F. Gohl.

Rockefeller has been a long-standing supporter of ARC's mission to help bring the Appalachian Region into socioeconomic parity with the nation. The award presented to him cited his "continued support of community development efforts and the vital role that local development districts have in improving the Region's quality of life."

On receiving the award, Rockefeller said that "both the Development District Association of Appalachia and the Appalachian Regional Commission must be commended for their tireless commitment to closing health, income, and other socioeconomic disparities in communities around Appalachia and beyond. In West Virginia, this important work has been critical to lifting up our families so they could have a seat at the table of American prosperity. I'm deeply honored by this award, which reflects our long-time partnership focused on strengthening every corner of Appalachia."

Gohl thanked Rockefeller for his support for ARC and the local development districts, noting how much it had meant in promoting economic development in the Appalachian Region.

The DDAA is a public, nonprofit organization made up of Appalachia's 73 multicounty planning and development districts. Its members work closely with ARC, other federal and state agencies, and local residents to identify and address economic development needs and opportunities in their communities.