Rsba administrative grant

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development a $120,000 RSBA (Regional State Based Activities) Administrative Grant under the Appalachian Area Development program (CFDA 23.002) on October 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2026. This administrative grant supports regional economic development initiatives across Tennessee's Appalachian counties by funding organizational capacity and administrative functions necessary to advance ARC's strategic objectives in entrepreneurial development, workforce and education initiatives, critical infrastructure improvements, community and economic development leveraging natural and cultural heritage, and regional leadership capacity building.

As an administrative grant, the award funds the operational and management activities required to coordinate, plan, and administer Appalachian development projects within the state. TDECD, which serves as the prime recipient and state administrator for ARC funding, utilizes these administrative resources to align projects with the State Strategy Statement, provide technical assistance to local development districts, and facilitate the grant application and approval process for projects advancing ARC's mission to strengthen the region's economic competitiveness and build sustainable community capacity in Appalachia.