Appalachian Regional Commission funding restored in congressional committee
By Susan Tebben
Ohio Capital Journal
A major cut to funding to the Appalachian Regional Commission was stopped by a congressional committee after supporters of the commission’s work, which includes areas of Ohio, expressed their outrage at the potential reductions.
President Donald Trump’s discretionary budget proposal had included a 93% cut for the commission, which provides grant funding and program assistance to areas in the Appalachian region. That region includes 32 counties in Ohio, from Clermont County to Ashtabula County, with several counties considered by the commission to be economically distressed, and 15 others to be at risk of economic distress.
In Ohio, projects related to improving broadband, water quality and wastewater systems were part of $12.5 million in investments in fiscal year 2024, as part of a partnership between the commission and the Ohio Governor’s Office of Appalachia.
The original cut proposed by Trump would have taken the commission down from $200 million in funding to $14 million. A July 17 report by the House Appropriations Committee for energy and water development funding recommended $150 million for the Appalachian commission instead. After discussions, the final markup approved by the appropriations committee included the full $200 million restored to the commission budget.
“Despite significant and unprecedented new challenges from the downturn of the coal mining industry, the substance use crisis and numerous natural disasters, Appalachian is the home of tremendous energy for innovation and the deep community commitments to put new projects in motion,” said Dana Kuhnline, program director for advocacy group Reimagine Appalachia, in a statement after the vote.
The appropriations, among other discretionary funds, now move to the full U.S. House for a vote, and then the Senate for consideration, where Kuhnline said they will look to the chamber to “preserve programs like the ARC … so that the potential of the region isn’t flatlined at this critical moment.”
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