Columbus, OH -- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced on Oct 29th, that more than $8.2 million in funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will be directed toward eight projects in Ohio that support workforce and economic development in communities impacted by the downturn of the coal industry.

The funding is part of the federal Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative to help address?coal-related job loss in the Appalachian region.?The Governor's Office of Appalachia, a division of the Ohio Department of Development, worked with local development districts in Ohio's Appalachian region to identify projects that could qualify for funding and aid in the federal application process.

“In Ohio, we are making significant investments into our Appalachian region, creating a better place to call home, attracting new businesses, and supporting sustainable economic growth,” said Governor DeWine, who serves as a member of the Appalachian Regional Commission. “This funding will support our work to help ensure all Ohioans have the opportunity to live up to their God-given potential.”

DETAILS: Complete List of Ohio POWER Awards Recipients

Funding will be used to strengthen a variety of industries, such as advanced manufacturing, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and workforce development and will enhance job training and employment opportunities, create jobs, and attract new sources of private investment in coal-impacted communities.

“These funds will support community strategies to build new industries and equip local residents with the skills needed to benefit from upcoming economic development projects,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted. “Creating new jobs and the accompanying prosperity requires strategic planning and investment. I hope these grants will help implement successful strategies in these communities.”

“By making defining investments like these, Ohio is creating a more vibrant economic future for the people who call Appalachia home,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “The projects we are announcing on Oct 29th, showcase the power of collaboration between local, state, and federal governments, as well as private organizations. By investing in local infrastructure and small businesses, we’re creating jobs and driving sustainable economic growth that will benefit generations to come.”

“ARC’s POWER initiative supports coal-impacted communities' preparation for the next phase of Appalachia’s economy, while ensuring that residents have a say in the course of their own futures,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “The investments announced in this round of POWER will help train workers, advance new industries, and build upon the progress already being made toward a brighter future full of economic opportunity for our region.”

This latest announcement is the ARC's largest POWER investment since the initiative was launched in 2015, with projects impacting 188 counties in 10 Appalachian states.