170 attend California workshop on grants for coal communities

The first of five workshops by the Appalachian Regional Commission was held Wednesday in California Borough, generating considerable interest in a new round of federal grants for coal communities.

More than 170 people attended the workshop on the POWER Initiative, a federal program that provides grants to communities that have been affected by job losses in the coal industry.

The commission recently announced the availability of $20 million in new grant money and issued a request for proposals. The workshops are being held to educate communities on what makes a good grant application.

Among the workshop participants at California University of Pennsylvania were Earl Gohl, federal co-chairman of the Appalachian Regional Commission, Lew Villotti, director of planning and development for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, and Bret Allphin, development director of Buckeye Hills Regional Council in Marietta, Ohio.

To date, Pennsylvania communities have undertaken 13 POWER projects totaling $9.5 million in grant funding – including projects in Washington, Greene, Allegheny, Fayette and Somerset counties.

Four more regional workshops are planned for South Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia and Alabama.

More information, including eligibility requirements, application deadlines and grant guidance, is available at www.arc.gov/power .

Stephen Huba is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-850-1280, shuba@tribweb.com or via Twitter @shuba_trib.