Fahe Awarded $326,000 ARC ARISE Grant for new local leadership development and workforce development initiative for affordable housing nonprofits in Appalachia
BEREA, KY, May 10, 2024 —Today, Fahe was awarded $326,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for its new project Vocational Initiative for Thriving Appalachian Leadership (VITAL). The funding was made available through ARC’s Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) which drives large-scale economic transformation through multi-state collaboration. Fahe along with Members in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia will establish a scalable and sustainable plan to increase affordable housing in the region through expanding workforce development and leadership opportunities. Nonprofit housing partners across Fahe’s network, including Housing Development Alliance, Appalachia Service Project, Mountain T.O.P., Open Door Community, and Coalfield Development, will contribute to the plan by sharing their successful models for creating pipelines of emerging leaders, building capacity to support existing leaders, establishing career pathways within an increasingly robust workforce ecosystem, and creating scalable strategies for addressing the region’s housing crisis.
“We thank ARC and are thrilled to be included in this round of funding,” said Fahe’s Senior Vice President of Membership, Vonda Poynter. “It will make a real difference to our communities in central Appalachia. The grant will support Fahe Members as they apply their proven regional leadership and workforce development strategies to increase skilled local tradespeople and enhance the pool of labor needed to build affordable housing,”
The ARISE funding opportunity drives large-scale economic transformation through collaborative multi-state projects. Since January 2023, ARC has used funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to invest over $69 million in ARISE projects that will strengthen Appalachian business and industry, as well as support the development of new economic opportunities across the region.
Additional information about ARC’s ARISE funding opportunity for multi-state collaboration is available here.
About Fahe
Fahe is a network of 50+ community nonprofits serving Appalachia and other regions. Fahe brings people, organizations, and resources together to build homes, communities, and a thriving Appalachia through expanding economic opportunity and security for all.
During FY2023, Fahe made total direct investments of $144.8 million. Total capital under management exceeded $300 million. Since 1980 Fahe has invested almost $2 billion and served more than 940,000 people. Learn more at fahe.org.
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