The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC's mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. Established by an act of Congress in 1965, ARC has been working directly with federal, state and local partners to build a sustainable economic future for the Region. In fiscal year 2015, ARC approved more than $101 million in funding for 466 nonhighway projects in the Region. These investments will help create or retain more than 23,000 jobs, train more than 23,000 students and workers, attract an additional $204.9 million in other project funding, and leverage $765.8 million in private investments in Appalachia.Learn more about our work, strategic investments and research at www.arc.gov