The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) released the second annual evaluation of the Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE).
The report evaluates data collected from 57 projects between September 2024 and August 2025. Included are summaries of progress and early impacts of ARISE-funded projects.
The report also identifies emerging themes related to successes, challenges and experiences implementing multi-state projects.
To date, ARISE grantees have served:
- 14,500 people, with over 5,600 improved
- 3,300 businesses and organizations, with over 900 improved
- 600 communities, with nearly 500 improved.
Grantees reported more than 300 jobs created, in total, and one grantee reported nearly 1,400 jobs retained. Nearly 200 ARISE grantees and partners rated multi-state collaboration as a “significant strength” of their projects. Benefits of multi-state projects included more cross-state collaboration, knowledge transfer, increased efficiency, and wider-reaching strategies.