Podcasts about appalachian regional commission arc

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. Advantage Valley welcomes new board members and expands economic development efforts…WV Tourism adds two more Almost Heaven swings for scenic photo opportunities…and can you guess WV's oldest restaurant? Hint…it's in Parkersburg…on today's daily304.   #1 – From WV BUSINESSLINK – Advantage Valley, Inc. has announced the appointment of nine new members to its Board of Directors, each bringing a wealth of expertise and commitment to the region's continued growth.  In addition to expanding its board, Advantage Valley has appointed Sam Lever as the new Expanding Markets Coordinator.  The Expanding Markets program, recently boosted by a $1.6 million POWER grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), is a three-year effort to diversify and strengthen manufacturing and business services in the region. The program's goals are to support 225 businesses, foster 200 new jobs, and attract $25 million in new investments by increasing market reach and bolstering local supply chains. Read more: https://wvbusinesslink.com/2024/11/15/advantage-valley-inc-welcomes-new-board-members-and-expands-economic-development-efforts-with-new-hire/   #2 – From REGISTER-HERALD – The West Virginia Department of Tourism has added two new Almost Heaven swings to the Mountain State, one at the Resort at Glade Springs and the other at Mason-Dixon Historical Park. The Resort at Glade Springs is a family-friendly oasis in Raleigh County offering championship golfing, spa services, on-site dining, outdoor adventures and more. Mason-Dixon Historical Park is located in Monongalia County on the border of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. This brings the total number of photo-ops to 31 that can be found throughout each of the state's nine travel regions. Travelers are encouraged to share their swing photos on social media using #AlmostHeaven.  Visit wvtourism.com for more information and locations of the swings.  Read more: https://www.register-herald.com/news/life/two-new-almost-heaven-swings-tucked-within-west-virginia-s-scenic-landscape/article_e6479900-a36c-11ef-9ddb-97df538093e1.html   #3 – From CONNECT-BRIDGEPORT – Whether you're after homey Italian joints that still make pasta like nonna, old-school taverns that have served beer and bites for a century, or saloon-style restaurants with plenty of Old West spirit, America has its fair share of historic places to eat.  The folks at Lovefood.com have rounded up the oldest restaurant in each state that still serves great food today. In West Virginia, the North End Tavern can trace its roots back to 1899 when it was established as a little neighborhood pub. Since then, the Parkersburg eatery has become a local favorite restaurant and brewery with a solid fuss-free menu including a selection of well-made appetizers and sandwiches. Try the signature burger or plump for German-inspired sandwiches, such as fried bologna and smoked liverwurst.  Read more: https://www.connect-bridgeport.com/connect.cfm?func=view§ion=News&item=Web-Site-Lists-West-Virginias-Oldest-Restaurant-and-its-Going-Strong-Just-a-Quick-Trip-on-Route-50-West57413   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

This episode is sponsored by The Plumbing Outlet and Coal Region Winery. Chad Lauer and Chad Evans sit down with local Community Revitalization leader Betsy Kramer. Betsy is the Community Revitalization Manager for SEDA-COG - An economic development organization and also Local Development District set up through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) serving 11 core central region counties: Center, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union. Betsy uncovers the hood of what is confusing to many. She explains the major need in our area and the difficult process of securing funding and getting projects off the ground. She explains how specific the grant writing process needs to be and the challenges involved. She also inspires so many that often they think she has an open "checkbook". Betsy leaves us feeling educated and wanting to be a larger part in our community revitalization efforts. She has secured and is working on administering nearly 7 million dollars worth of grants today and is working on securing millions more for the area. Let's celebrate her great work! Tune in today!

Communities in the Appalachian Region often experience isolation and economic disparity due to the geography of the region and the decline of the coal industry. Gayle Manchin, Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), talks about the funding initiatives provided to communities within the region to revitalize the economy. She shares how the programs are focused on strategies that connect students to the automotive industry, reintegrate members of the community affected by the Opioid crisis, and expand broadband access throughout the region.

In this episode Neil and Will sit down with the Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Gayle Manchin.  She discusses the importance of collaboration throughout the region and the priorities of the ARC.  Becoming the first Federal Co-Chair from the only State that is entirely in Appalachia, West Virginia, she understands and has lived the issues of the region and is focused on the future opportunities for Appalachia.  Take a listen as she speaks from the heart and talks about the "soul" of Appalachia...you might even hear her display her knowledge of the Wild and Wonderful State.  Also, Neil has allergies and Will calls his shot...Happy Derby Eve - Charge It!  Don't forget the #AppBiz(s) of the Week: Dogwood Crafters; Tuckaseegee Fly Shop; Dillsboro River Company!   Appalachian Regional Commission: www.arc.gov Appalachia Envisioned: ARC's 2022-2026 Strategic Plan: www.arc.gov/strategicplan/ Dogwood Crafters: www.dogwoodcrafters.com Tuckaseegee Fly Shop: www.tuckflyshop.com Dillsboro River Company: www.northcarolinarafting.com        

President Donald Trump states that his actions through Executive Orders will bring coal mining jobs back to America. Jonathan Norris, researcher and engineer, says that is not likely to happen. Mining jobs have been on a steady decline since the 1980’s, according to Norris. The main reason is that natural gas has become a much cheaper way to run power plants to produce electricity. So, even if the President eases carbon emission standards, it will not bring back mining. Coal is a more expensive way to produce electricity. So mines will not come back unless the economy allows them too, Norris says. Norris’ research interests include energy policy, innovation systems, and the transition of small Appalachian communities from being coal bases to being economically diverse. A native of the coal fields of Ohio, Norris describes the boom or bust history of extractive industries in his home region. He says that when coal jobs disappeared that many small communities had no other economic base. The poverty that follows hones a type of fatalistic thinking among residents. Crime increases and drug and alcohol addiction skyrockets. Southern Ohio, Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia have the highest rates of opioid addiction in the country, Norris says. Some efforts are being made to retrain former miners for other jobs but many of those programs rely on federal money from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). However, the ARC has been “zeroed out” in the Trump proposed budget to Congress. If retraining programs and economic diversity programs cannot be funded then hope dims further for the mining communities out of work.

The East Kentucky Leadership Conference celebrated its 30th anniversary with a keynote speech from Earl Gohl, federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission(ARC)for the past 7 years. Since 2015 ARC has awarded $92 million through the POWER Initiative to help coal-impacted communities in 250 Appalachian counties diversify and grow their economies. Gohl said that because people have overcome differences and come together to revitalize the region, Appalachia is the next great investment opportunity. Peter Hille, Executive Director of the Mountain Association of Community Economic Development (MACED), introduced Gohl and praised the ARC as partners sharing the vision of a bright future for Appalachia.

This episode features highlights from the East Kentucky Leadership Conference with keynote speaker Earl Gohl who is the federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). You will also hear from Peter Hille the Executive Director of Mountain Association of Community Economic Development (MACED). More than $100 million in new federal funding has been committed to projects serving eastern Kentucky over the past year. These highlights explain how some of it was put to use. Also, from the Ohio Valley ReSource hear some analysis on three ideas that could help mend things in coal country. And, from Homefront Chronicles, hear how one Seattle mother created a safe place for mom's to cut loose and be free. *Music featured in this episode was "Hightop Shoes" by George Gibson from his Last Possum Up the Tree album on the JuneAppal label.

Keynote speaker Jay Williams, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director of the Economic Development Administration, compared similar efforts to rebuild his hometown - Youngstown, OH, where the steel industry cratered in the 1970s - with the exciting developments he sees throughout central Appalachia. "You have convened the stakeholders that are essential. The solutions are on the ground, right here in east Kentucky," he told the crowd of over 200 people attending the first “Big Ideas Fest: Education, Workforce, and Economic Development” in Hazard, KY. on September 16, 2016. Another 250 persons from eight states watched the broadcast live. The KY Valley Educational cooperative (KVEC) and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) sponsored the conference which can be viewed in its entirety in early October on www.theholler.org.

Grace Fricks is the founder and CEO of Appalachian Community Enterprises (ACE), now known as Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs. ACE is a non-profit organization and Community Development Financial Institution that provides loans to start and grow businesses in Georgia. ACE also offers its borrowers business development resources to create sustainable businesses. Since 1999, ACE has provided more than $5.5 million in microloans thus creating or retaining more than 1000 jobs. In 2009, ACE founded Georgia Green Loans, www.georgiagreenloans.org, a statewide partnership providing loans to help small businesses “green-ovate.” Fricks, a small business owner for over 10 years, is a former board member of the national trade association, Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) and the National Association of Women Business Owners, Atlanta chapter. Grace has served on the national advisory committee to the revolving loan program of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and is past treasurer of Georgia Microenterprise Network (GMEN). Other community work includes former Board of White County Rotary Club and former Trustee of the Board of North Georgia Technical College. Fricks was the 2005 recipient of the Founders Award for GMEN.