How to Apply

Area Development projects with ARC are funded each year in the region. Applying for ARC Grants is a little different than most of the other grant processes. In short, prospective applicants (local units of government, educational institutions, and non-profits) are notified in late winter of each year by their county point of contact of a deadline to submit a Preliminary Project Description (PPD).

After the county has received all of the PPDs, complete and accurate projects are then prioritized by the County Commissioners for the respective County, which is then forwarded to Tri County Council.

What Happens Next

The PPD rankings received from the 3 counties are then aggregated on a regional basis and screened for eligibility under the ARC priorities. The Tri County Council board then votes to approve the “Project Package” which prioritizes projects for funding. Each project will either receive a notice to apply for funding by completing an ARC application, or a notice their project was not selected for funding at this time.

ARC can fund construction and non-construction projects, although construction projects require another federal agency or registered state basic agency to administer the funding on behalf of ARC.

How Funding is Determined

ARC funding must be matched with local, state, and/or other federal funds (limitations apply). The funding ratio is determined by the ARC attainment status, which is currently:

• Garrett, Allegany, and Washington Counties - Transitional - maximum 50% Grant 50% Match
• Other ARC Grant Funding opportunities exist but generally require an application directly to ARC and are competitive throughout the entire Appalachian region. The same match rates generally apply to all programs.

Interested in an ARC Grant? Contact us to learn more if your project might be eligible.

Important Links

ARC (Appalachian Regional Commission)
Appalachia Envisioned A New Era of Opportunity ARC Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2022-2026
2024-2028 Appalachian Maryland Development Plan
2026 Maryland ARC Annual Strategy Statement
2024-2028 ARC Strategic Goals and Objectives
ARC Area Development Funding
ARC Preliminary Project Description (PPD) FY27
ARC Grant Applicant Resources Guide
Build America, Buy America (BABA) ARC Grantee Manual
Guidance on the Implementation of BABA Preference Requirements
State Basic Agency Program for ARC Construction Projects contact David Cotton, ARC Program Manager, Maryland Department of Planning
ARC FY 2027 Project Package