Recent funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has served to enhance the quality of life in several Alabama communities and create value for local economies.
To demonstrate the impact ARC has had in Alabama, the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLTA) produced a video highlighting first-hand accounts, including that of Nick Saban, speaking to the funding’s profound impact in local communities.
ARC is a federal-state partnership signed into law by President John F. Kennedy. Its mission is to innovate, partner and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia, including 37 of Alabama’s 63 counties within the Appalachian Mountain range.
These investments help build communities, create jobs and strengthen economic growth. Produced by AMLA, Investing in Appalachian Alabama is a 10-minute video featuring success stories in Woodstock, West Blocton, Oakville and Scottsboro.
“The overall purpose of the Investing in Appalachian video is to serve as a promotional tool of the benefits of the ARC to the state of Alabama, as well as to help educate the public that Alabama is a part of the Appalachian region,” said AMLA President and CEO Tami Reist.
“ARC invests with local, regional and state partners to transform Appalachian communities, create jobs and strengthen the economy. Appalachia has long been stereotyped as a dying culture, but through this video, we want to shine a light on the vibrant growth within Alabama’s communities that the ARC has been able to help facilitate. The end goal with this video is to leave the viewer inspired. We want them to be excited about the opportunities that the ARC can bring to their communities and inspired to take action to address the challenges that their communities face,” added Reist.
From 2013-2022, ARC has invested $79.5 million in 479 projects across Alabama’s Appalachian region. Those projects attracted another $105.8 million in matching funds and leveraged $1.03 billion in additional private investment for the benefit of students, workers, businesses and the 3.1 million residents in Alabama’s 37 Appalachian counties. “Even with this progress, there’s still much more work to be done in our communities,” said Reist.
The 37 Appalachian counties in Alabama, and those eligible for funding, are Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Macon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Pickens, Randolph, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston.
To learn more about these opportunities, visit www.arc.gov/alabama.
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available by calling 800.648.5381 or by visiting www.NorthAlabama.org.
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