Congresswoman Summer Lee and ARC Chair Gayle Manchin Announce $68.2 Million in POWER Grants to Support Economic Revitalization Across Appalachia
**For Immediate Release**
Kyla Gill, Kyla.Gill@mail.house.gov
Vaibhav Vijay, Vaibhav.Vijay@mail.house.gov
Congresswoman Summer Lee and ARC Chair Gayle Manchin Announce $68.2 Million in POWER Grants to Support Economic Revitalization Across Appalachia
PITTSBURGH, PA – October 16, 2024 — Today, Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12) joined Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin, along with leaders from Catalyst Connection, the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (PA DCED), and the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), to announce a historic $68.2 million investment in ARC POWER grants. The announcement took place at Mill 19 in Pittsburgh, a hub of robotics and advanced manufacturing innovation, and emphasized Pennsylvania’s role as the leading state in securing POWER grant funding.
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The POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) initiative focuses on supporting economic diversification and job creation in communities impacted by the downturn in coal industries. Pennsylvania secured $18.5 million of this year’s funding—more than any other state—across 20 projects that will drive workforce development, innovation, and community revitalization.
During the event, Congresswoman Lee remarked on the importance of these investments for the future of Western Pennsylvania:
“I’ve always believed that investing in our young people is the key to our future. Today’s announcement is about making sure that the next generation has the opportunities they need to stay right here in Western Pennsylvania, build good careers, and lead us into the future. These grants are helping to ensure that everyone, especially young Black and Brown folks, have access to careers in industries like robotics and advanced manufacturing.”
Several Highlights of the projects announced today in PA-12 include:
- Pittsburgh Robotics Network: $750,000 to support 100 businesses and train 120 workers, including 100 students, in the robotics industry.
- Catalyst Connection: $2 million for the “Forging Your Future” program, providing students with hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing.
- Center for Employment Opportunities: $50,000 to support transitional work and job training for justice-involved individuals.
- Jewish Healthcare Foundation: Nearly $2 million to address the regional nursing shortage by training Certified Nursing Assistants.
The event concluded with a recognition of the collaborative effort between federal, state, and regional partners that made this funding possible. The POWER initiative is an ongoing commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth in Appalachian communities transitioning from coal-based economies.
About the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC):
The ARC is an economic development 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 to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia.
Since taking office in January 2023, Lee, who serves on the House Oversight Committee and Space, Science and Technology Committee, has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs. Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 2,780 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.