Thank you for your interest in Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Area Development funding through Buckeye Hills Regional Council (BHRC)!
ARC Area Development funds support strategic investments that strengthen economic opportunities and improve the quality of life across our region. This pre-application is the first step in identifying projects ready to move forward and aligned with ARC's priorities. Applicants should review all guidance carefully before beginning, as ARC requires demonstrated readiness and committed matching funds. Successful projects will clearly articulate measurable economic impact and regional benefit.
Before you begin, please read this entire document carefully!
1. Introduction
ARC Area Development funds are intended to be the final piece of your project’s funding package. All other funding sources must be fully committed before you apply. In addition, your project must be shovel-ready at the time of submission!
All proposed projects must demonstrate a clear, measurable impact on regional economic development.
2. Eligibility
Eligible Applicants: political subdivisions, educational institutions, public institutions, and non-profit organizations
Eligible Projects: ARC supports sustainable community and economic development in Appalachia. Its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, "Appalachia Envisioned," outlines five goal areas that guide ARC's funding decisions. To be eligible for funding, projects must align with at least one of these five goals. The goals are listed below and are not ranked in order of priority:
- Building Appalachian Businesses: Strengthen and diversify the Region’s economy through inclusive economic development strategies and investments in entrepreneurship and business development.
- Building Appalachia’s Workforce Ecosystem: Expand and strengthen community systems (education, healthcare, housing, childcare, and others) that help Appalachians obtain a job, stay on the job, and advance along a financially sustaining career pathway.
- Building Appalachia’s Infrastructure: Ensure that residents and businesses in Appalachia have access to reliable, affordable, resilient, and energy-efficient utilities and infrastructure to live and work successfullyin the Region.
- Building Regional Culture and Tourism: Strengthen Appalachia’s community and economic development potential by preserving and investing in the Region’s local cultural heritage and natural assets.
- Building Community Leaders and Capacity: Invest in local leaders, organizations, and communities' capacity to address local challenges by providing technical assistance and support to access resources, engage partners, identify strategies and tactics, and conduct effective planning and project execution.
Please see the ARC 2022-2026 Strategic Plan to assist in preparing your project proposal summary, available here.
FY 2026-27 County Match Rates:
Distressed - 20%
Meigs
At-Risk - 30%
Athens, Monroe, Morgan, Noble
Transitional - 50%
Hocking, Perry, Washington
Competitive- 70%
None
3. Pre-Application Timeline
To be considered for funding, applicants must submit the pre-application through SurveyMonkey Apply. Paper or email submissions will not be accepted.
Pre-applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on June 12, 2026. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit early and to keep a complete copy of their submission in case revisions are requested.
April 27, 2026: Pre-Applications Open
June 12, 2026: Pre-Applications Close
June 30, 2026: Cure Period Ends (All Final Pre-Applications Due)
July 2026: BHRC Presents Projects to County Commissioners
August 7, 2026: BHRC Executive Committee Approves Project List
September 1, 2026: Selected Projects Open Full Applications in Salesforce/Pathways
September - December 2026: Full Applications Submitted to the Governor’s Office of Appalachia via Salesforce/Federal ARC via Pathways for Selected Projects
No earlier than Spring 2027: ARC Grant Awards Available for Expenditure
4. Pre-Application Information
BHRC requires additional documentation as part of the pre-application. You may save your application at any time and return later to complete it. The following items are required for the pre-application:
- Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): All applicants must include their EIN and UEI in the pre-application. An EIN is a nine-digit number issued by the IRS for tax purposes, while a UEI is a string of alphanumeric characters issued by SAM.gov for business transactions and credit.
- Ohio Administrative Knowledge System (OAKS) Supplier/Vendor ID Number: To do business with the State of Ohio, each grantee must have an OAKS Supplier/Vendor ID and provide banking information to receive payment. (If your organization currently receives payments from the State or another state agency, you likely already have an OAKS Supplier/Vendor ID.)
- Project Type & Funding Maximums: Projects fall into two categories: construction and non-construction.
- For construction projects, applicants may apply for up to $500,000.
- For non-construction projects, applicants may apply for up to $250,000.
- BHRC reserves the right to modify the applicant's funding request. The modified amount must be agreed upon by the applicant and BHRC.
- Strategic Rationale: Applicants must identify the problems and/or opportunities the project will address, explain the critical circumstances that compel the project to be funded, and describe how the project supports a regional strategy or plan.
- Counties Served Documentation: For each county the project proposes to serve, applicants must upload a letter or email of support from a community partner located in that county (e.g., County Commissioners, Mayors, non-profit leaders, school district administrators, etc.). At least one letter of support is required for the pre-application to be considered complete.
- Performance Measures: All projects must have documented performance measures. Applicants will estimate their project’s measures in the project pre-application. If selected, these measures will be used to show progress in quarterly and closeout reports. Measures may be outputs or outcomes. Outputs are the direct products of project activities and are often measured by the volume of work accomplished. Outcomes are benefits or changes for individuals, communities, organizations, businesses, or other entities during or after the project’s grant period. They are the measurable results or impact.
- For detailed information about your project's performance measures, follow this LINK.
- Project Readiness Documentation: Please include project-readiness documentation in your pre-application for construction projects.
- You are required to submit a certified cost estimate AND a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) for all construction projects.
- For projects involving job creation or retention, applicants must submit a letter from the company or companies on official letterhead, written in their own words, committing to the jobs. The jobs must be directly tied to the proposed project and must specify the number of full-time and part-time positions. Letters must also include the amount of private investment associated with the project. Form letters are not accepted by ARC or BHRC.
- Legal Requirements or Health & Safety Justification: If you are legally compelled to complete your project, please upload documentation of the directive that compels you to do so (for example, Ohio EPA Findings & Orders). If no court directives are applicable, upload the Health & Safety Justification explaining your project's response to health and safety concerns.
- Funds Commitment Letters: For each committed funding source, upload a signed and dated commitment letter on official letterhead that clearly states the amount pledged to the project.
- For projects using Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) funding, include a letter from your Chief Financial Officer stating intent to apply.
- If your community received principal forgiveness, upload the OWDA documentation showing the award.
5. Assistance for Applicants
The staff at BHRC are readily available to assist applicants. For any inquiries, concerns, or guidance regarding your pre-application, please email Emma Yeager, Development Specialist, at eyeager@buckeyehills.org.
6. Scoring Rationale and Methodology:
BHRC uses scoring criteria based on our Executive Committee's priorities. The 26-27 ARC Pre-Application Scoring rubric can be found by emailing Emma Yeager.
2026-27 ARC Pre-Application
Thank you for your interest in Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Area Development funding through Buckeye Hills Regional Council (BHRC)!
ARC Area Development funds support strategic investments that strengthen economic opportunities and improve the quality of life across our region. This pre-application is the first step in identifying projects ready to move forward and aligned with ARC's priorities. Applicants should review all guidance carefully before beginning, as ARC requires demonstrated readiness and committed matching funds. Successful projects will clearly articulate measurable economic impact and regional benefit.
Before you begin, please read this entire document carefully!
1. Introduction
ARC Area Development funds are intended to be the final piece of your project’s funding package. All other funding sources must be fully committed before you apply. In addition, your project must be shovel-ready at the time of submission!
All proposed projects must demonstrate a clear, measurable impact on regional economic development.
2. Eligibility
Eligible Applicants: political subdivisions, educational institutions, public institutions, and non-profit organizations
Eligible Projects: ARC supports sustainable community and economic development in Appalachia. Its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, "Appalachia Envisioned," outlines five goal areas that guide ARC's funding decisions. To be eligible for funding, projects must align with at least one of these five goals. The goals are listed below and are not ranked in order of priority:
- Building Appalachian Businesses: Strengthen and diversify the Region’s economy through inclusive economic development strategies and investments in entrepreneurship and business development.
- Building Appalachia’s Workforce Ecosystem: Expand and strengthen community systems (education, healthcare, housing, childcare, and others) that help Appalachians obtain a job, stay on the job, and advance along a financially sustaining career pathway.
- Building Appalachia’s Infrastructure: Ensure that residents and businesses in Appalachia have access to reliable, affordable, resilient, and energy-efficient utilities and infrastructure to live and work successfullyin the Region.
- Building Regional Culture and Tourism: Strengthen Appalachia’s community and economic development potential by preserving and investing in the Region’s local cultural heritage and natural assets.
- Building Community Leaders and Capacity: Invest in local leaders, organizations, and communities' capacity to address local challenges by providing technical assistance and support to access resources, engage partners, identify strategies and tactics, and conduct effective planning and project execution.
Please see the ARC 2022-2026 Strategic Plan to assist in preparing your project proposal summary, available here.
FY 2026-27 County Match Rates:
Distressed - 20%
Meigs
At-Risk - 30%
Athens, Monroe, Morgan, Noble
Transitional - 50%
Hocking, Perry, Washington
Competitive- 70%
None
3. Pre-Application Timeline
To be considered for funding, applicants must submit the pre-application through SurveyMonkey Apply. Paper or email submissions will not be accepted.
Pre-applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on June 12, 2026. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit early and to keep a complete copy of their submission in case revisions are requested.
April 27, 2026: Pre-Applications Open
June 12, 2026: Pre-Applications Close
June 30, 2026: Cure Period Ends (All Final Pre-Applications Due)
July 2026: BHRC Presents Projects to County Commissioners
August 7, 2026: BHRC Executive Committee Approves Project List
September 1, 2026: Selected Projects Open Full Applications in Salesforce/Pathways
September - December 2026: Full Applications Submitted to the Governor’s Office of Appalachia via Salesforce/Federal ARC via Pathways for Selected Projects
No earlier than Spring 2027: ARC Grant Awards Available for Expenditure
4. Pre-Application Information
BHRC requires additional documentation as part of the pre-application. You may save your application at any time and return later to complete it. The following items are required for the pre-application:
- Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): All applicants must include their EIN and UEI in the pre-application. An EIN is a nine-digit number issued by the IRS for tax purposes, while a UEI is a string of alphanumeric characters issued by SAM.gov for business transactions and credit.
- Ohio Administrative Knowledge System (OAKS) Supplier/Vendor ID Number: To do business with the State of Ohio, each grantee must have an OAKS Supplier/Vendor ID and provide banking information to receive payment. (If your organization currently receives payments from the State or another state agency, you likely already have an OAKS Supplier/Vendor ID.)
- Project Type & Funding Maximums: Projects fall into two categories: construction and non-construction.
- For construction projects, applicants may apply for up to $500,000.
- For non-construction projects, applicants may apply for up to $250,000.
- BHRC reserves the right to modify the applicant's funding request. The modified amount must be agreed upon by the applicant and BHRC.
- Strategic Rationale: Applicants must identify the problems and/or opportunities the project will address, explain the critical circumstances that compel the project to be funded, and describe how the project supports a regional strategy or plan.
- Counties Served Documentation: For each county the project proposes to serve, applicants must upload a letter or email of support from a community partner located in that county (e.g., County Commissioners, Mayors, non-profit leaders, school district administrators, etc.). At least one letter of support is required for the pre-application to be considered complete.
- Performance Measures: All projects must have documented performance measures. Applicants will estimate their project’s measures in the project pre-application. If selected, these measures will be used to show progress in quarterly and closeout reports. Measures may be outputs or outcomes. Outputs are the direct products of project activities and are often measured by the volume of work accomplished. Outcomes are benefits or changes for individuals, communities, organizations, businesses, or other entities during or after the project’s grant period. They are the measurable results or impact.
- For detailed information about your project's performance measures, follow this LINK.
- Project Readiness Documentation: Please include project-readiness documentation in your pre-application for construction projects.
- You are required to submit a certified cost estimate AND a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) for all construction projects.
- For projects involving job creation or retention, applicants must submit a letter from the company or companies on official letterhead, written in their own words, committing to the jobs. The jobs must be directly tied to the proposed project and must specify the number of full-time and part-time positions. Letters must also include the amount of private investment associated with the project. Form letters are not accepted by ARC or BHRC.
- Legal Requirements or Health & Safety Justification: If you are legally compelled to complete your project, please upload documentation of the directive that compels you to do so (for example, Ohio EPA Findings & Orders). If no court directives are applicable, upload the Health & Safety Justification explaining your project's response to health and safety concerns.
- Funds Commitment Letters: For each committed funding source, upload a signed and dated commitment letter on official letterhead that clearly states the amount pledged to the project.
- For projects using Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) funding, include a letter from your Chief Financial Officer stating intent to apply.
- If your community received principal forgiveness, upload the OWDA documentation showing the award.
5. Assistance for Applicants
The staff at BHRC are readily available to assist applicants. For any inquiries, concerns, or guidance regarding your pre-application, please email Emma Yeager, Development Specialist, at eyeager@buckeyehills.org.
6. Scoring Rationale and Methodology:
BHRC uses scoring criteria based on our Executive Committee's priorities. The 26-27 ARC Pre-Application Scoring rubric can be found by emailing Emma Yeager.