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

Appalachia Then and Now: Complete Study

Appalachian Regional Commission
Start Date: Feb 2013 — End Date: May 2015

Under a partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness worked with West Virginia University’s Regional Research Institute and its Bureau of Business and Economic Research to analyze the agency’s effectiveness during the past 50 years.

Specifically, CREC teamed with the two other organizations to examine the significant structural and socioeconomic changes to the Appalachian Region since 1965 and to determine to what extent the ARC’s economic development investments have contributed to these changes.

In 2015, the work helped produce an extensive study, called “Appalachia Then and Now: Complete Study.” The study comprises three documents: an executive summary, which summarizes the findings, metrics, and methodology of the study; a technical report which provides more detail about the socioeconomic trends, the economic impact study and the quasi-experimental research method; and a state meetings report, which provides summaries from each of the state focus groups. Through this work, the public can find out information about the following changes in the 13 Appalachian states since the Appalachian Regional Development Act (ARDA) went into effect in 1965.

Report Contents

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.

Project Updates

CREC Launches New Website Focused on the Appalachian Regional Commission’s 50-Year Impact
November 4, 2015

The Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC), in partnership with West Virginia University (WVU) have launched a new website that seeks to further educate the public about the significant structural and socioeconomic changes that have taken place in the U.S. Appalachian Region following the Appalachian Regional Development Act’s passage in 1965. The site specifically focuses […]