Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Grants (FY 2026 Waitlist Grant Cycle)

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Grants (FY 2026 Waitlist Grant Cycle) is sponsored by Appalachian Regional Commission. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) offers grants for mission-aligned projects that support economic and community development in the Appalachian region.

Appalachian Regional Commission | STC Regional Planning Appalachian Regional Commission FY 2026 Waitlist Grant Cycle For the first time, STC is accepting grant applications for the Fiscal Year 2026 ARC Waitlist. The ARC application is due in the STC office by Saturday January 31st, 2026. STC staff will review draft materials, before the deadline.

The preliminary review is an essential way to improve the project’s ranking. For the Federal Fiscal Year 2026 funding cycle (October 1, 2025-September 30, 2026), STC will require one full application (no pre- application). All applicants must work with STC staff while developing their applications.

STC staff will assist applicants with questions about grantwriting, funding, budgets, and letters of support. The most current application forms are available in the green box below, labeled “Grant at a Glance”. Also, please utilize the document “NYS Implementing Strategies” for an overview of the grant requirements and process.

Funding requests are expected to be $250,000 or less, although NY will consider funding up to $500,000 for construction projects. Applications for significantly smaller grants have been approved ($12,000 to $18,000). This year, STC may consider funding multi-year applications.

Minimum 50% cash and/or in-kind With questions, contact Victoria Ehlen: NYS Implementing Strategies Guide to ARC Performance Measures (Outputs and Outcomes) ARC Distressed Areas Link Local news reports about this grant program: 2025 coverage from BigFox: ARC Grant Program Offers Up to $500K for Southern Tier Projects 2022 coverage from WETM- Regional Planning Board offers up to $500k grant funding to local organizations Interesting ARC grant ideas An application to fund a consortium of 'navigators' from all programs in the region.

Benefits: collaboration, resource sharing, referrals, and create a single point of contact for new programs in the region. Interesting ARC grant idea An ARC application to fund training and certification for lumber inspectors. Benefits: increase employment opportunities in/near local lumberyards, increase the sale value of graded lumber, allow local graded lumber to be used for code approved construction.

Interesting ARC grant idea Regional application from a group of similar non-profits to study local labor market and long term funding sustainability for these organizations. Interesting ARC grant idea Local non-profit health provider applies for an ARC grant to purchase new equipment that will improve the health of the people of Appalachia.

Training program for recent High school graduates to practice tree trimming, logging, and safety around heavy machinery before securing local employment. ARC Applications are formed by combining all of the required forms listed blow. You should complete and combine the forms to create your own complete application.

Note: If you receive a message to update your pdf viewer when you click on the forms, just click on the download button and save document to your files. These forms may not work in your browser, please download the forms and open with Adobe PDF or Nitro PDF. If these formats don’t work for you, please contact STC, we can send copies of these forms by email.

Deadline: Saturday 1/31/2026 Sustainability & Phased Effort SF424 - for all applicants (complete for construction and non-construction applications) SF 424A - for non-construction applicants SF 424B - for non-construction applicants SF 424C - for construction applicants SF 424D - for construction applicants ARC Match Rate Calculator Application Narrative 4 -budget Section 5: Additional Materials ARC Non-Construction Checklist ARC Construction Application Checklist ARC access to Capital checklist Project Specific Guidance from ARC Application Guidance by Project Type https://www.

arc . gov/resource/application-guidance-by-project-type/ Arts, Culture, and Heritage Broadband Digital Opportunity Entrepreneurship and Business Development Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation STC’s staff are now working to develop a waitlist of applications for Fiscal Year 2026, and get a head start for next year’s ARC cycle. For FY2026, applications were due on Thursday, September 18th, 2025.

These projects were evaluated by STC’s review committee, and approved by STC’s board on 10/16/2025. and submitted to NYS on 10/17/2025 to the NYS ARC representatives (NYS Department of State). At the New York State Department of State, the locally approved projects are reviewed and approved by the Secretary of State (typically in the following March) and submitted to the federal ARC office for review before June.

The federal ARC office will complete an independent project review, allocate funding, and notify successful applicants. Goal 1: Economic Opportunities Invest in entrepreneurial and business development strategies that strengthen Appalachia’s economy. Goal 2: Ready Workforce Improve the education, knowledge, skills, and health of residents to work and succeed in Appalachia.

Goal 3: Critical Infrastructure Invest in critical infrastructure- especially broadband; transportation, including the Appalachian Development Highway System; and water/wastewater systems. Goal 4: Natural and Cultural Assets Strengthen Appalachia’s community and economic development potential by leveraging the Region’s natural and cultural heritage assets.

Goal 5: Leadership and Community Capacity Build the capacity and skills of current and next-generation leaders and organizations to innovate, collaborate, and advance community and economic development.

The plan outlines the following goals (as they related to job creation): Building Appalachian Businesses Building Appalachia’s Workforce Ecosystem Building Appalachia’s Infrastructure Building Regional Culture and Tourism Building Community Leaders and Capacity Proposals will relate to one of the above goals and could include workforce training, basic skills, workforce assessments, economic development plans and strategies, child care and early childhood education, telecommunications, job related infrastructure, leadership, business development, necessary public infrastructure, educational excellence, local government assistance demonstrations, or rural health and mental health initiatives.

You can access a list of prior ARC funded projects here . Matching Funds / Continuation All grants require a 50% match in cash and/or eligible in-kind services from federal, state, and local sources, although total federal funding is limited to 80% of total project cost for infrastructure, construction, and equipment projects.

ARC provides funds for start-up and the first year of operation, and ARC-funded projects are expected to be self-sufficient after the project period, normally one year. ARC is not able to provide local project monitoring for construction projects. Therefore, ARC requires applicants for construction projects to arrange, in advance, for a “basic agency” to provide on-the-ground project review.

STC will work with sponsors to identify a basic agency, which will receive an outline of the project in order to determine whether the basic agency can support the project.