Published: December 02, 2008 10:30 am      

Rogers to present ARC mini-grants

Funds to assist local governments in the creation, implementation of community plans

Special to The Times-Tribune

U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers will present a new round of federally funded mini-grants to several communities within the Fifth Congressional District during a strategy and planning summit in Hazard on Dec. 10. The funding will advance local economic and community development plans.

Recipients of these Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) mini-grants will be announced at the Developing and Implementing Community Strategies Summit. The event will be Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. in at the Rural Law Enforcement Technology Center (RULETC), a national training center for law enforcement agencies located next to The Forum on Hwy. 15 in Hazard. The summit is free and open to elected officials and community leaders across the region.

The funds assist local governments in the creation of a strategic plan or implementation of priority community development projects identified in existing community-based strategic plans. Grant amounts range between $5,000 and $20,000. This year marked the first time communities have been able to apply for funding to develop a strategic plan.

 “The ARC strategy funding will catapult ideas into formalized plans. It gives reality to economic development visions that some of our rural communities cannot afford to even explore,” said Rogers. “Along with resources at The Center for Rural Development, these community leaders are gaining access to fundamental necessities for success.”

The program responsible for disbursing the grants is funded by the ARC and administered by The Center for Rural Development in Somerset. The program provides support to local governments in 32 federally designated distressed counties in southern and eastern Kentucky.

The event will also serve as a forum for elected officials and community leaders to learn how strategic planning can be an effective tool for successful community development.

Representatives of four communities that received a total of $66,000 in ARC mini-grants earlier this year will share updates on the progress of their grant-funded strategic plans and economic development projects. Those communities include the cities of Inez and Corbin, along with McCreary and Bell counties.

“The funding support received from ARC provides an excellent platform for The Center to emphasize the importance of a community strategic plan to successful community development, while providing a powerful incentive for forward-thinking communities to develop one,” said Lonnie Lawson, president and CEO of The Center for Rural Development.

Registration is free for the event, but pre-registration is required. Lunch will be provided for all registered attendees. To register, please e-mail your name, organization or company name, address, phone number, and e-mail address to Sharon Dodson at sdodson@centertech.com, or call (606) 677-6000.