The Appalachian Regional Commission’s Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative has awarded $2,069,443 to boost economic development across Southwest Virginia.
The funding, announced by U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia on Wednesday, provides funding to help communities and regions that have been affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations and coal-related supply chain industries.
“We’re glad this funding will continue to create new jobs and spur economic development in communities across Southwest Virginia,” said the Senators. “These investments will help ensure that rural communities have the infrastructure to bring new opportunities to the region.”
The funding is broken down as follows:
- $1,319,443 to support the Central Appalachia Broadband Transport Infrastructure Improvements Project in Lee and Wise counties, as well as Claiborne and Hancock counties in Tennessee. The funding will be used to develop two data centers in Central Appalachia, creating 40 permanent technology jobs.
- $750,000 for the Friends of Southwest Virginia in Abingdon. The funding will go towards assessing the economic impact of Friends of Southwest Virginia projects, including the Crooked Road, the Appalachian Spring Outdoor Recreation initiative, and Round the Mountain Artisan Network, in order to inform future community development projects.
Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to boost economic development in Southwest Virginia, including through strong support of ARC, an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments that innovates and invests to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in 423 counties across the Appalachian region. The draft of the Fiscal Year 2025 government funding package, which the senators are working to pass, includes $200 million for ARC.
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Rebecca Barnabi
