The READY Grants to Grow program is part of the Appalachian Regional Commission’s READY Appalachia initiative, aimed at fostering regional economic development through capacity-building efforts. This funding opportunity addresses a key challenge in the Appalachian region—limited capacity at the individual, organizational, and community levels to tackle economic issues and implement sustainable development solutions. As such, the initiative is structured to support organizations that can serve as catalysts for long-term change in their communities by enhancing internal capabilities and community-wide strategic planning.

With a total funding pool of $9 million, READY Grants to Grow offers awards of up to $500,000 per project. The program targets entities that are either based in or serve economically distressed communities in the Appalachian region. It particularly prioritizes organizations that themselves are low-capacity and therefore in greater need of strategic investment. This approach ensures that resources are directed to areas where they are most needed and can have the greatest impact on economic recovery and sustainability.

Eligible projects must aim to build capacity in one or more of the following ways: improving individual capacity through initiatives such as staff training and professional development; enhancing organizational capacity via internal strategic planning or service expansion; and supporting community capacity through efforts like community-led planning processes or contracting planning professionals. Each funded initiative should clearly demonstrate how it contributes to the long-term ability of local stakeholders to drive meaningful economic progress.

Applicants must propose clear strategies for strengthening the capabilities of economically disadvantaged areas within Appalachia. Proposals that illustrate a strong alignment with ARC’s mission of supporting regional economic development and provide tangible, actionable plans for capacity building are most likely to be successful.

At this time, no specific application deadlines or timelines have been provided on the program webpage. Interested applicants are encouraged to reach out to the ARC for further details or clarification. Questions about the program may be directed to the ARC via email at READY@arc.gov.

The grant opportunity is administered by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), a federal-state partnership that promotes economic growth and development across 13 Appalachian states. Further details about ARC, its mission, and other funding opportunities can be found on its official website.