Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE)

ARISE@arc.gov

The Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) program offers federal grant funding for multi-state projects designed to drive large-scale, regional economic transformation.

Projects must address at least one of the strategic goals:

• Building Appalachian Businesses: Strengthen and diversify the region's economy through economic development strategies and investments in entrepreneurship and business development
• Building Appalachia's Workforce Ecosystem: Expand and strengthen community systems (education, healthcare, housing, childcare, and others) that help Appalachians obtain a job, stay on the job, and advance along a financially sustaining career pathway
• Building Appalachia's Infrastructure: Ensure that the residents and businesses of Appalachia have access to reliable, affordable, and resilient utilities and infrastructure in order to successfully live and work in the region
• Building Regional Culture and Tourism: Strengthen Appalachia's community and economic development potential by preserving and investing in the region's local cultural heritage and natural assets
• Building Community Leaders and Capacity:Invest in the capacity of local leaders, organizations, and communities to address local challenges by providing technical assistance and support to access resources, engage partners, identify strategies and tactics, and conduct effective planning and project execution

Eligible applicants:

• Local development districts (LDDs)
• Tribes or consortia of tribes
• States, counties, cities, or other political subdivisions of a state, including a special purpose unit of a state or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions
• Institutions of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education
• Public and private nonprofit organizations or associations

Projects must serve and benefit at least two states within the Appalachian Regional Commission service area.

Award ceiling: $10,000,000 for implementation projects and $500,000 for planning projects
Project period: Up to 5 years for implementation projects and 18 months for planning projects

A link to the application instructions is available on the program website.

All applicants are required to submit a project summary to the state program managers of all the states impacted by the proposed project prior to submitting a pre-application.

Email the pre-application to ARISE@arc.gov by December 5, 2025. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal with a deadline of May 15, 2026.

Applicant webinar: Best Practices for Designing Multi-State Projects
(Registration required)
October 28, 2025
11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Eastern