Landmark ARC Reauthorization Bill Sent to President for Approval

An historic, five-year reauthorization bill for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awaits only the President's signature after being approved Tuesday by Congress.



President Bush is expected to sign the legislation into law, making the reauthorization of ARC the longest in its history and only the second congressional reauthorization of the agency since the Carter Administration.



The reauthorization bill contains several key provisions:

• Authorizes a new telecommunications program with four main goals: improving affordable access to advanced telecommunications; providing education and training in the use of telecommunications and technology; developing programs to increase the readiness of businesses to engage in electronic commerce; and supporting entrepreneurial opportunities for businesses in the information technology sector.
• Requires that at least half of ARC’s project dollars go to activities that benefit the Region’s economically distressed counties and areas.
• Authorizes an entrepreneurship initiative to encourage entrepreneurial education, improve access to debt and equity, develop a network of business incubators, and help communities in crafting strategies for small-business creation in various sectors of the economy. And,
• Authorizes a new Regional Skills Partnership program to encourage collaboration among businesses, educational institutions, state and local governments, and labor organizations to improve the job skills of workers in specific industries.

More information on ARC is available at http://arc.gov/.