Cecelia Mason Published

WVU Will Study Effectivness of Appalachian Programs

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The Appalachian Regional Commission turns 50 this year and has awarded a grant to West Virginia University and two other agencies to analyze whether it’s been successful.

The $300,000 grant will allow the WVU Bureau of Business and Economic Research and Regional Research Institute to work with the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness based in Arlington, Va., to identify what economic development strategies have worked.

A WVU news release says the project will analyze the impact several ARC programs have had on the economy in Appalachia and will examine socioeconomic trends in the region.

John Deskins, director of the Bureau, says the research will identify which economic strategies are most effective, and which will help ARC and other agencies design future programs.

The researchers involved point out the results of the survey will be useful not only in Appalachia, but in other regions of the country.

The results of the study are expected to be released in the fall.