It’s often said that economic development is a team sport. For the Upstate region of South Carolina, an important teammate continues to be the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). With a footprint that includes six of our counties, ARC is tasked with innovating, partnering and investing to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia.
In fiscal year 2018, ARC supported 16 projects in South Carolina, totaling nearly $4.1 million. With the ability to leverage matching funds of approximately $75 million, these projects will also create or retain 295 jobs; allow for the training and education of nearly 1,550 students and workers; and benefit approximately 1.2 million residents.
Earlier this year, ARC announced support for an additional project that will impact the Palmetto State -- a grant to draft a feasibility study regarding the creation of a closed circle economy network in Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina. The study will examine the potential of transforming textile and furniture waste into new, marketable products that go back into the supply chain.
As we move forward and seek to bring additional opportunities to the Appalachian region of South Carolina, ARC will continue to be an important partner. After all, by collaborating with an entity like ARC, we’ll able to maximize on the potential of available funding and ensure that needed projects come to fruition.