The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) offers the READY Grants to Grow program under its broader READY Appalachia initiative. With a total funding pool of $9 million, this grant opportunity provides awards of up to $500,000 to organizations seeking to build capacity at the individual, organizational, or community level. The program targets areas across the Appalachian region, particularly those that are economically distressed or have demonstrably low capacity for addressing regional challenges.
READY Grants to Grow is intended to strengthen the foundation for sustainable economic development by supporting projects that develop internal skills, strategies, and structures. Eligible activities may include staff training and professional development (individual capacity), internal strategic planning or expansion of services (organizational capacity), or the initiation of community-led planning processes and hiring of planning consultants (community capacity). These projects must be designed to catalyze long-term change within Appalachian communities.
Applicants must demonstrate either that they serve economically distressed communities or that their own organizational capacity is limited and would benefit significantly from investment. The ultimate goal of the program is to empower local organizations to identify and address their own priorities more effectively, thereby contributing to the broader economic resilience of the region.
While specific application deadlines and processes were not provided in the overview, prospective applicants are encouraged to contact ARC directly at ready@arc.gov for further guidance. Additional information and updates about this program and others within the READY Appalachia initiative can be found on the ARC website.
READY Grants to Grow aligns with ARC’s ongoing commitment to closing economic gaps in the Appalachian region by investing in people, organizations, and systems that can sustain long-term regional growth and equity.
Align proposals with one or more capacity-building dimensions; prioritize communities designated as distressed.
