THE CENTER FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Press Release

The Center for Rural Development, in partnership with the Kentucky Department for Local Government (DLG) and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), is accepting grant proposals for the 2019 KY-ARC Flex-E-Grant program.

Competitive grants up to $10,000 are available for city and county governments and eligible non-profit organizations in 35 ARC economically distressed southern and eastern Kentucky counties for community capacity building projects.

Counties eligible to apply for the KY-ARC Flex-E-Grant program include Adair, Bath, Bell, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Rockcastle, Russell, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe.

The Flex-E-Grant program, designed by the ARC, provides strategic investments in projects that build community capacity to mobilize resources, gain leadership experience, and strengthen community institutions and networks.

The Center, ARC and DLG seek to fund proposals that strengthen economic growth and development in Kentucky’s distressed Appalachian counties. Proposals that build capacity through the promotion, support, and advancement of economic development will have priority.

Goals of the grant funding include:

• Economic development — includes strategic planning, regional collaboration, entrepreneurial and business development projects.

• Ready workforce — includes workforce education, retraining, recovery and health projects.

• Natural and cultural — includes tourism, natural resources and cultural opportunities that strengthen the local economy.

• Leadership and community capacity — includes leadership development, youth engagement, planning and training projects.

Grants are subject to approval for up to $10,000, require a 20 percent match of the total project costs, and are to be completed within a six-month timeframe. Flex-E-Grant funds are made available on a reimbursement basis only. All proposals must be submitted to the center by March 22. Digital files are preferred and may be emailed to arc@centertech.com.

Visit centertech.com to download guidelines for the KY-ARC Flex-E-Grant program. For more information or questions about the application process, call (606) 677-6110 or email psimpson@centertech.com.

Grant awards will be announced in May.