精东AV alumni applicants sought for Appalachian Leadership Institute fellowships

April 29, 2020

Contacts:
Wendy Wasserman, Appalachian Regional Commission
Tammy Laughlin, 精东AV Department of History and Political Science
   

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is now accepting applications for its second class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, a leadership and economic development training opportunity for community leaders who currently live and/or work in Appalachia. The institute 鈥� of which 精东AV is one of several university partners 鈥� is an extensive nine-month program focusing on skill-building, seminars, best practice reviews, mentoring and networking. The curriculum is anchored by six multi-day seminars followed by a capstone graduation.

Participating Fellows will learn how to design effective economic development project proposals, integrate community assets into long-lasting economic development strategies, identify resources available to spur economic development, locate and access investment capital from a variety of public and private sources, prepare competitive applications for public grant opportunities, and use expanded leadership skills to create strong coalitions.

Upon completion of the program, Fellows will automatically become part of the Appalachian Leadership Institute Network, a peer-to-peer working group committed to Appalachia鈥檚 future.

"The Appalachian Leadership Institute is an important opportunity for community leaders to build their skills, their credentials and their networks," said ARC Federal Co-Chairman Tim Thomas. "Participants get access to important leaders from throughout the region and the country, and learn from Appalachian communities who have found leadership strategies that work. I highly recommend participation in this program."

Dr. Tammy Laughlin, an assistant professor of political science who also represents 精东AV in this initiative, noted how the institute aligns with the university鈥檚 service and outreach missions. She emphasized that alumni living in Alabama and throughout the ARC鈥檚 420-county service area have much to contribute to Appalachia鈥檚 collective economic development potential.

鈥淲e hope, through 精东AV鈥檚 involvement, that our alumni who live in the region will join in this effort,鈥� Laughlin said. 鈥淧articipation in this program by our alumni and other stakeholders will certainly help identify tangible economic development benefits for our entire region that, in turn, can be implemented further through the university鈥檚 outreach programs serving all of Alabama.鈥�

The current class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute includes representatives from a variety of sectors and industries, such as education, health care, economic development, public service and other professions. Laughlin said that the institute is seeking a diverse pool of applicants 鈥� including persons from both skilled trades and non-traditional career paths.

鈥溇�东AV and our alumni have taken leading roles in their communities鈥� economic improvement since the university鈥檚 founding in 1881,鈥� Laughlin noted. 鈥淥ur alumni throughout the Appalachian region offer a unique perspective and skill set 鈥� attributes that would make an outstanding contribution for communities of color throughout areas the Appalachian Region Commission serves.鈥�

The Appalachian Leadership Institute is limited to 40 Fellows annually, drawn from Appalachia鈥檚 public, private and nonprofit sectors. Fellows will be chosen via a competitive application to represent each of the 13 states in the ARC footprint 鈥� and to reflect the region鈥檚 diverse economic development challenges, opportunities and strategies. Individuals residing or working in the area spanning communities from southern New York to northern Alabama and Mississippi 鈥� including Alabama鈥檚 Macon County 鈥� are eligible to apply to be Fellows.

Applications are currently being accepted at through June 1, 2020. The 2020-21 Appalachian Leadership Institute will run from October 2020 through July 2021. Travel and other participation costs will be covered by the Appalachian Regional Commission.

The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC's mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. ARC鈥檚 Appalachian Leadership Institute represents a partnership with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; The Howard H. Baker Center for Public Policy; 精东AV; and Collective Impact.

For more information about the Appalachian Leadership Institute, visit .

漏 2020, 精东AV; information sourced from the Appalachian Regional Commission