WASHINGTON — The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced 90 local government entities, representing 12 Appalachian states, have been selected to participate in READY Local Governments.

Potter County, Pa., is one of the governments selected.

One of four tailored tracks under ARC’s capacity-building initiative, READY Appalachia, READY Local Governments is designed to help participants leverage federal funding opportunities and create lasting, positive change in their communities.

READY Local Governments participants will participate in nine weeks of virtual, cohort-based learning to grow their skills in project identification and planning, federal grant application development, federal grant regulations and compliance, community engagement in projects, and more.

“ARC’s local government partners have always been the backbone of our on-the-ground work throughout our Appalachian communities,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “Through our READY Local Governments initiative, we are proud to help these partners enhance their work through training, resources, and expanded support, because when our local communities thrive, the entire Appalachian Region succeeds.”

Following completion of the training program, participants will be eligible to apply for up to $50,000 in funding (no-match required) to implement internal capacity-building projects to help them better serve communities.