Funding

Partnerships

Southern Tier West represents three counties as a Local Development District for the Appalachian Region Commission (ARC), and three counties as an Economic Development District under the US Economic Development Administration (EDA).  Federal partners ARC and EDA offer investments to leverage private sector dollars that increase job opportunities, raise per capita income, promote infrastructure improvements and strengthen the capacity of people to complete global economies.  County participation and investments make these programs possible.

ARC's Area Wide Development Program

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a regional economic development agency that represents a partnership of federal, state, and local government.  Local participation is provided through multi-county local development districts (LDDs).  Southern Tier West is this Region's Local Development District and if your project idea or program concept serves the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, or Chautauqua, you are welcome to work with the team at Southern Tier West to develop your Area Wide Development Program application.  The team will assist applicants with questions about program development, partners, grant writing, match and support requirements and budget.

Eligible proposals must be consistent with one of ARC's investment goals:
  • GOAL 1: Economic Opportunities - Entrepreneurial and business development strategies
  • GOAL 2: Ready Workforce - Education, knowledge, skills and health or residents to work and succeed in Appalachia
  • GOAL 3: Critical Infrastructure - Broadband, water and wastewater systems
  • GOAL 4: Natural & Cultural Assets - Leveraging the Region's natural and cultural heritage assets
  • GOAL 5: Leadership & Community Capacity - Build the capacity and skills of current and next-generation leaders and organizations to innovate, collaborate, and advance community and economic development

Eligible entities include incorporated non-for-profits, municipalities (towns, villages counties) and other public entities such as IDAs and educational institutions in the member counties.  Eligible maximum amount funded: $150,000.  Funds must be matched at least dollar per dollar with cash and/or in-kind goods or services depending upon the type of proposal.  Funds must be used for new activities/programs, or for an expansion of activities/programs.  Funding of existing programs is not an eligible expense.
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EDA's Public Works & Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs

The U.S. Economic Development Administration's (EDA) investment policy is designed to establish a foundation for sustainable job growth and the building of durable regional economies throughout the United Sates.  This foundation builds upon two key economic drivers - innovation and regional collaboration.  EDA's grant investments in planning, technical assistance and infrastructure construction are designed to leverage existing regional assets to support physical infrastructure development in distressed communities.  Eligible applicants must be a state, a political subdivision of a state, district organization, Indian tribe, institution of higher education, or a non-profit acing in coordination with a political subdivision of a state.  Proposals must be based on a locally developed CEDS and fund must be matched at least dollar per dollar with cash.

Eligible areas must meet the specific economic distress criteria:
  • An unemployment rate that is for the most recent 24 month period of which data is available;
  • At least one percent greater than the national average unemployment rate; or per capita income that is, for the most recent period for which data is available, 80% or less of the national average per capita income; or
  • A "special need" (certain unemployment or economic adjustment problems) as determined by EDA

As EDA is extremely competitive, STW encourages prospective project sponsors to develop competitive projects consistent with EDA's funding priorities; develop required project information in a timely fashion; and work closely with STW in order to maximize your chances of being funded.