Agency, which funds projects in Appalachia, up for elimination

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, have sent a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to reconsider the elimination of funds to the Appalachian Regional Commission in his budget blueprint for the 2018 fiscal year.

The ARC supports projects in Ohio and 12 other states across Appalachia with the aim of stimulating local economies, providing job training, expanding broadband access in rural areas, and supporting local infrastructure needs.

The ARC, proposed by President John F. Kennedy, was established in 1965 under his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson. In Lawrence County, ARC funds have been sought for development at the Gateway Center and restoration of the Brumberg Building in Ironton, as well as a number of water and sewer improvement projects.

“We respectfully urge you to reconsider this decision and continue to support the Commission and the essential services it provides to the citizens of Appalachia,” Brown and Portman wrote in their letter.

The senators said the ARC’s work needs to continue.

“While ARC has played a prominent role in improving the quality of life in Appalachia, the work of the Commission is not complete,” Brown and Portman wrote. “Despite the economic progress made in the region, many communities in Appalachia face unemployment rates higher than the national average and lack the high-quality jobs needed to attract and retain workers. The citizens of Appalachia are also susceptible to poorer health outcomes than individuals located outside of the region.”

They said discontinuing the agency would be detrimental to the region.

“We urge you to reconsider your decision to eliminate this essential program and encourage you instead to consider ways in which the Commission could be expanded to ensure continued progress in Appalachia,” the senators wrote.