Appalachian Regional Commission Offers New Training Program To Build Long Term Community Capacity April 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 8, 2019—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) began accepting applications for the inaugural class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute a new leadership and economic development training opportunity for community leaders who currently live and/or work in Appalachia. The Appalachian Leadership Institute is an extensive nine-month program focusing on skill-building, seminars, best practice reviews, field visits, mentoring, and networking. The curriculum will be anchored by six multi-day seminars around the region, followed by a capstone graduation in Washington, DC.

As part of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, participating Fellows will learn how to:

• Design effective economic development project proposals
• Integrate community assets into long-lasting economic development strategies
• Identify resources available to spur economic development
• Locate and access investment capital from a variety of public and private sources
• Prepare competitive applications for public grant opportunities
• Use expanded leadership skills to create strong coalitions

Upon completion of the program, Appalachian Leadership Institute Fellows will automatically become part of the Appalachian Leadership Institute Network, a peer-to-peer working group committed to Appalachia’s future.

“Appalachia’s future relies on leaders coming from a variety of sectors, backgrounds, and communities,” said Tim Thomas, ARC Federal Co-Chair. “The Appalachian Leadership Institute will help these leaders enhance and refine their skills, share their expertise, and prepare their communities for success.”

The Appalachian Leadership Institute will be limited to 40 Fellows annually, drawn from Appalachia’s public, private and non-profit sectors. Fellows will be chosen via a competitive application. Each class will include representatives from each of the thirteen state in the ARC footprint to reflect the region’s diverse economic development challenges, opportunities, and strategies. Travel and other participation costs will be covered by the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Applications are currently being accepted at www.arc.gov/leadershipinstitute through June 1, 2019. The 2019–2020 Appalachian Leadership Institute will run from October 2019–July 2020.

The Appalachian Leadership Institute is a comprehensive regional leadership training program developed by the Appalachian Regional Commission in partnership with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; The Howard H. Baker Center for Public Policy; Tuskegee University; and Collective Impact. More information about the Appalachian Leadership Institute is available at www.arc.gov/leadershipinstitute.

The Appalachian Leadership Institute will be limited to 40 Fellows annually, drawn from Appalachia’s public, private and non-profit sectors. Fellows will be chosen via a competitive application. Each class will include representatives from each of the thirteen state in the ARC footprint to reflect the region’s diverse economic development challenges, opportunities, and strategies. Travel and other participation costs will be covered by the Appalachian Regional Commission.

About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC's mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.