Lehigh Times

More than $4 million has been awarded to six projects in the Appalachian Region through the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) initiative, which is through the Appalachian Regional Commission and intended for coal communities affected by lost jobs.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced the awarded funds on March 17, saying that supporting the coal-impacted communities across the state of Pennsylvania is “vitally important.” He added that the success of the Appalachian Region is something that affects the entire state.

“The six projects receiving funding from ARC will generate new economic opportunities to help improve the quality of life for the region’s residents and further strengthen Pennsylvania’s reputation as the best place to live, work, and play,” said Wolf.

The funds go toward entrepreneurship, substance use disorder, economic development and training. 

According to the release, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts has a Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program that is being awarded $500,000. The Opioid Education for Allied Health Professionals program through Somerset County Foundation for Higher Education is receiving $845,043. A total of $509,948 will fund Alleghenies Marketplace through the Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission. There will be $1,120,000 going to Tri-County Workforce Investment Board, Inc.’s Steamfitter’s Advanced Employment and Training Program. Funds amounting $490,625 will go to the Applied Data-Driven Methods Certificate at the University of Pittsburgh School of Computing and Information. Westmoreland County Community College has a program called Tristate Pathways 2.0: Connecting the Right Skills and to Jobs, which is also known as TEAM Pathways 2.0: Connections that Work, and $669,625 will be funding this.

The POWER initiative uses federal funds to help communities affected by job losses due to cuts in coal mining and power plant operations. It is focused on helping these communities economically through encouraging economic diversity, training for jobs and finding new jobs in other industries.

ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin praised the work of POWER and the local community partners that help make it happen.

“Pennsylvania is a great advocate for Appalachia’s coal-impacted communities, and I look forward to seeing how its grantees help contribute to our region’s growth and success,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin.

According to the release, since POWER started in 2015 the ARC has invested $316.6 million in 393 projects across 358 coal-impacted counties across the country. Nearly $73 million was awarded in 2021 and is expected to retain or create 10,383 jobs while attracting about $527.3 million in private investments.