Administration announces $65.8 million in economic and workforce development grants for coal-impacted communities

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On March 17, the Appalachian Regional Commission and the U.S. Economic Development Administration announced $65.8 million in grants for economic and workforce development in coal-impacted communities as part of the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative.

The Initiative is intended to facilitate new strategies to train and employ workers in communities in which the coal industry has been a primary jobs provider. Recipients can use the funds in a variety of ways:

• Development of projects to create jobs in new industries, attract new investments to stimulate job growth, or provide workforce development services and skills training;
• Creation of partnerships that attract and invest in the future economic growth of coal-impacted communities;
• Capacity building to foster long-term economic growth in communities impacted by the decline of the coal industry.

In addition to the funds announced today, the President’s 2017 budget request included an additional $75 million for implementing strategies to increase workforce development and training strategies in coal-impacted communities. 

See our previous post for a description of earlier grants made under the POWER Initiative.  

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