Helping Communities Shine

Whether researching and implementing ways to shape a community's economic development plan or partnering to create ways to put people to work, CREC connects researchers and policymakers with:

     • Data training
     • Custom portfolios that aid regional competitiveness

Project Profile

Developing Regional Ecosystems to Support Recovery-to-Work Part II

Appalachian Regional Commission
Start Date: May 2021 — End Date: Dec 2023

CREC is providing technical assistance and peer-based learning to assist local development districts (LDDs) in building regional collaboration to help those in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) transition to or maintain work opportunities. With support from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and partnering with the Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA), CREC is supporting two cohorts of four regions as they build “recovery-to-work ecosystems” in their regions in a cohort learning academy format. In this process, CREC will help regions to articulate local challenges, identify and engage ecosystem partners, build momentum toward successful implementation of action plans, and identify the resources required to build a sustainable ecosystem. Further, CREC is continuing to engage the alumni of the first cohort of the learning academy as they continue to implement action plans developed in 2020. CREC will document best practices and lessons learned to further the recovery-to-work ecosystem concept and practice.

Technical Assistance

About the Client

Appalachian Regional Commission

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a regional economic development agency that represents a partnership of federal, state, and local government. Established by an act of Congress in 1965, ARC is composed of the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a federal co-chair, who is appointed by the president. Local participation is provided through multi-county local development districts.