“Alabama, Kentucky. ‘We're here.’ Maryland, Mississippi, New York. …”
That’s Governor Andy Beshear, chiming in for the commonwealth in the early Monday morning gathering in Ashland’s Paramount Arts Center. Beshear is states co-chair for the 13-state group and thanks A-R-C members for their support of his state.
“In Kentucky, in partnership with our Department for Local Government, ARC has supported nearly 80 projects in the last fiscal year, totaling over $50 million of investment. More importantly, those projects have been matched by nearly $70 million in additional investment from our state and local governments, which is leveraged an additional $30 million in private investment.”
Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin of West Virginia speaks to the theme of this year’s gathering – “Appalachia Rises: Resilience, Strength and Transformation.” She says the people of Appalachia have always shown resilience and strength. They had to.
“Now more than ever, we are poised to make that kind of transformation in an impact on our region, that will reverberate on our generations to come. And the key to making that transformation is collaboration.”
After resolutions are adopted and house-cleaning is taken care of, attendees take a brief break in the arts center’s front room. In the second session, Perry County Judge-Executive Scott Alexander praises the A-R-C for helping fund power and water lines needed for the Sky View Housing project, which will replace some of the 1,700 homes damaged or destroyed by the July 2022 flood.
“It's hard to go in and say you have to relocate. But it's good to go in and say we have an option for you to take your family and move them to higher grounds and move them into a home and move them into a neighborhood, governor, unlike anything they've ever seen. And so I really just want to thank you all that you're providing that light at the end of the tunnel.”
Beshear notes other, federal assistance for Sky View: After an environmental survey is finished, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will help build the homes, while the Federal Emergency Management Agency will offer temporary housing.
Then it’s time for A-R-C grant announcements totaling more than $1.5 million for five Kentucky groups battling the opioid epidemic.
“Next we have some funding for ‘Love Must Win.’
It’s a $50,000 planning grant for a recovery program at Snug Hollow Farm in Estill County; something Ryan Joseph Allen says he’s been planning for a year.
“As we say, in recovery, one day at a time, one step at a time, one moment at a time, and one heart at a time, you know, work on on healing those pieces of yourself, of your own heart, and that really ripples out and that will affect other people around you.”
The ripple effect is echoed by Beshear a few minutes later.
“It's just a recognition that a good job, or access to health care isn't Democrat or Republican, a new bridge or road isn't red or blue unless we paint it that way. That access to clean drinking water is a basic human right. And that we have a once in a generation chance to expand high speed internet to every home in our states and especially to Appalachia.”
Later, Manchin takes a few questions from reporters, including one about the worth of the 58-year-old, regional antipoverty program. She says the A-R-C, working with state and local governments, has helped build waterlines and highways – and today, the lacking highway is broadband Internet.
“While we, we want to help every community to not only survive, but to thrive, the end goal is that we will be able to compete, compete not only with anyone in this country, but globally because we live in a global society now, then we will have
parity.”
The final speaker of the day is a man who’d like to take his team to the Final Four – and the son of a working class family from Appalachia. UK basketball coach John Calipari salutes those trying to make the region, and the country, a better place.
“My life wasn't just about what I could grab. It's what kind of ripple effect going forward. We were in the back talking about all that you do. And you impact the communities that need it the most.”
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