Center for Population Health (CPH) has been awarded $750,000 by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to expand the work of the Community Care HUB (HUB), Community Health Worker (CHW) program in Cambria and Somerset counties. This award is part of a recently announced $68.2 million award package supporting 65 projects in 188 coal-impacted counties through ARC’s POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative, which directs federal resources to economic diversification projects in Appalachian communities affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries.
The HUB, an initiative of Center for Population Health, aims to improve health outcomes of vulnerable populations by addressing risk factors, or social determinants of health, associated with poor health outcomes.
“ARC’s POWER initiative supports coal-impacted communities’ preparation for the next phase of Appalachia’s economy, while ensuring that residents have a say in the course of their own futures,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “The investments announced in this round of POWER will help train workers, advance new industries, and build upon the progress already being made toward a brighter future full of economic opportunity for our region.”
“We are extremely grateful to receive the ARC POWER Initiative grant, which will allow us to train and expand our CHW workforce in the region and connect our most vulnerable residents to much needed health and human service resources,” said CPH Executive Director Jeannine McMillan. “The positive impact on the residents in our region due to the receipt of this funding will be extraordinary.”
Including this recent award package, ARC has invested over $484.7 million in 564 projects impacting 365 coal-impacted counties since POWER was established in 2015. ARC’s investments have helped create or retain nearly 54,000 jobs and prepare nearly 170,000 workers and students for new opportunities in entrepreneurship, broadband, tourism, and other growing industries.