Appalachian Regional Commission Overview
The Appalachian Regional Commission Program in New York State
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) was established by the Federal Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965, to improve the economy and quality of life in Appalachia. The program provides financial and technical assistance to the region in meeting its special problems, to promote its economic development, and to establish a framework for joint federal-state-local efforts toward providing the basic facilities essential to its growth, attacking its common problems and meeting its common needs on a coordinated and concerted regional basis.
New York State is one of the thirteen states in the federally-defined Appalachian region that includes all of West Virginia, and parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. The Appalachian portion of New York State ("Appalachian New York"), contains the following fourteen counties: Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins. This region is most commonly known as New York's "Southern Tier."
The Governors of the Appalachian States and the Federal Co-Chairman appointed by the President formally comprise the Commission. Governor David A. Paterson of New York State is a member of the Commission; Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez serves as his Alternate. The Department of State (DOS) is the official agent of the State of New York responsible for administering the Appalachian Program in New York State.
Under the program the States are responsible for recommending local and state projects within their borders that will receive assistance. Each federal fiscal year New York State submits an annual Investment Package to ARC, including projects that are proposed for funding with Area Development Resources in that year.
In November of 2003, ARC formally launched a comprehensive strategic planning process to help guide economic and community development work in the Appalachian Region for the six years beginning in fiscal year 2005. This process resulted in a strategic plan that defines’s ARC’s vision and mission and outlines four general goals. All Area Development Resources must be used to implement one of these goals:
General Goal 1: Increase job opportunities and per capita income in Appalachia to reach parity with the nation.
General Goal 2: Strengthen the capacity of the people of Appalachia to compete in the global economy.
General Goal 3: Develop and improve Appalachia’s infrastructure to make the Region economically competitive.
General Goal 4: Build the Appalachian Development Highway System to reduce Appalachia’s isolation.
The complete text of the new ARC Strategic Plan can be found on the ARC website.
New York State has established objectives and strategies for use of Commission funds under each of the four general goals. These strategies provide the key State policy framework for investment of ARC resources in Appalachian New York. All project proposals must implement one of the State strategies developed for Area Development resources or the Commission's Regional Initiatives.
The first point of contact for potential project sponsors should be the Local Development District (LDD) which serves the project’s proposed service area. The LDD’s provide technical assistance to potential sponsor’s in application preparation, prepare area wide plans to guide annual investment of ARC resources and submit applications to the Department of State for consideration and inclusion in the annual Investment Package. The LDD’s and the respective counties they serve are:
Allegany, Cattaraugus & Chautauqua Counties
Southern Tier West Regional Planning & Development Board
4039 Route 219, Suite 200
Salamanca, NY 14779
(716) 945-5301
www.southerntierwest.org
Chemung, Schuyler & Steuben Counties
Southern Tier Central Regional Planning & Development Board
8 Denison Parkway East, Suite 301
Corning, NY 14830
607-962-5092
www.stcplanning.org
Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Tioga & Tompkins Counties
Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board
375 State Street
Binghamton, NY 13901
(607) 724-1327
www.steny.org