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The West Virginia Community Development Hub

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POWER +

POWER-+-bannerWHAT IS POWER +?

POWER + is the second phase of the the POWER Initiative.

POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization), is a coordinated effort among multiple federal agencies to provide coordinated investments in communities negatively impacted by changes in the coal industry and power sector.

POWER + will provide investments in communities impacted by changes in the power sector and coal industry, through a competitively awarded series of grants. These funds will help communities to: diversify their economies; create good jobs in existing or new industries; attract new sources of job-creating investment; and provide reemployment services and job training to dislocated workers in order to connect them to high-quality, in-demand jobs.

For West Virginia, POWER + represents a significant opportunity for collaboration amongst regions, sectors and organizations to secure federal funding support for integrated economic development plans and projects.

KEY POINTS:

    • The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will provide $50 million this fiscal year for projects that will help rebuild the economies of Appalachian communities suffering from the decline of the coal industry.
    • The U.S. Economic Development Administration will have an additional $15 million available for coal-impacted communities across the nation.
    • Other federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will also award funds through POWER +.
    • It is anticipated the ARC will have an additional $50 million to help rebuild Appalachian communities in FY 2017.
    • ARC funding will support a range of economic development planning and implementation activities, including developing entrepreneurial ecosystems, facilitating access to capital investments and new markets, and addressing barriers related to adequate water, sewer, and telecommunication infrastructure.
  • Preference will be given to applications that involve regional collaborations and strategic partnerships.

Beginning in 2015, The Hub has served the pivotal role of convening potential applicants and facilitating collaboration between the various agencies, organizations and individuals with a vested interest in diversifying the economy of West Virginia’s coalfields.

That collaboration is actively encouraged by the funding organizations, and will be essential to West Virginia being able to attract the greatest possible share of the available funds, for the greatest impact.

Anyone interested in POWER + funding opportunities is urged to contact The Hub’s Executive Director, Stephanie Tyree, at s.tyree@wvhub.org or 681-404-6053.

The latest information about POWER +, including the ARC’s funding criteria and call for applications documents, will be made published on this page as soon as they are available.

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