Buckeye Hills Regional Council is committed to assisting stakeholders across the region with identifying and securing resources that strengthen southeast Ohio communities. Completing Buckeye Hills’ online Project Profile questionnaire is the first step for local officials to pursue project funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission and other state and federal partners.
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest in building community capacity and strengthening economic growth in Appalachia. Local Development Districts, like Buckeye Hills Regional Council, work in partnership with the ARC to promote regional strategies for collaboration, progress, and prosperity. To maximize ARC investments in Ohio, the Governor’s Office of Appalachia (GOA) was formed in 1986 to enhance those opportunities with state matching funds for projects.
“When applicants submit a Project Profile, it helps our Development team at Buckeye Hills learn about upcoming projects that are important to our region’s communities,” says Development Director Sam Miller. “Each year, ARC-funded projects leverage additional public funding for the development of access roads, business expansion, healthcare upgrades, water and sewer upgrades, student development, job creation and retention, and more. These projects have led to improvements in our region’s health, education, and workforce, as well as the tax base of our villages and counties.”
The deadline to submit Project Profiles is 4:00 p.m. March 31. Project submissions focus on workforce development, job training activities, and public infrastructure. Projects must serve residents in one or more of the region’s eight counties: Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, and Washington.
The simple, self-explanatory Project Profile form collects basic information about projects, including contact information, project description, type and readiness, regional impact, project partners, and total project costs.
“While not all projects will be selected to receive funding, it is important for Buckeye Hills to learn about all of our communities’ priorities so we can share these needs with our state and federal partners,” says Miller. “These profiles help paint a picture of the investments that are needed throughout our region. As projects are reviewed, our staff is able to discuss them with other agencies and help to cultivate projects for future funding cycles.”
For questions or further information regarding Project Profile submissions, please contact Madelyn Brewer at mbrewer@buckeyehills.org or 740-516-5909.