“The 9^th district is largely rural and open to economic investment,” Shuster said. “Central and western Pennsylvania has proven itself to be a great location for development but we lack some of the infrastructure necessary attract large businesses into the area.  That’s where ARC is so important.”

“ARC funding provides communities in the 9^th with the means to build their base of infrastructure to compete with the markets of Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia,” Shuster added.  “In doing so, we accomplish two things; a better standard of living for our residents, and a bustling economy to provide security for future generations.”   

The legislation authorizes $463 million over the next five years for ARC programs, gradually increasing over time starting at $65 million for FY2007 to $95 million by FY2011.  In addition to this funding, the legislation authorizes $48 million a year for four years for the establishments of the “Economic and Energy Development Initiative.  The initiative is a grant program to promote the increased use of renewable and alternative energy throughout the Appalachian Region.

Facts About Appalachia:

·   The Counties of Blair, Bedford, Cambria, Clearfield, Fayette, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, Perry, Somerset, and Westmoreland all fall within the Appalachian Regional Commission;

·   About 23 million people live in the 410 counties of the Appalachian Region.  42 Percent of the Region’s population is rural, compared to 20 percent of the national population;

·   President Johnson signed the Appalachian Regional Development Act into law in 1965 to create a program of federal aid to improve the economic and social development of the Appalachian Region;

·   At that time, one in every three Appalachians lived in poverty, per capita income in the region was 23 percent lower than the U.S. average, and high unemployment and harsh living conditions led over 2 million residents of the region to relocate to other areas.