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Applications Open Now: Appalachian Leadership Institute

Posted Apr 16, 2026 | Posted in: News

From Appalachian Regional Commission – 

A collage features four photos of people smiling and interacting, with a central sign reading “Appalachian Leadership Institute.” The ARC logo and website “arc.gov/leadership” appear in the bottom right corner.

Appalachians are leading the way to strengthen economic development in their communities!

We’re accepting applications now for our Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI), which trains people who live or work in the region to:

💡 Identify and implement strategies to improve infrastructure, workforce development, tourism and more
🌳 Recognize and utilize unique assets in their communities to stimulate the economy
🙏 Collaborate with other leaders to plan for long-term economic growth

ALI, at no cost to participants, focuses on economic development skill-building, mentoring and collaboration. Six multi-day seminars will take place across the region from October 2026 to June 2027, concluding with a graduation ceremony in Binghamton, New York.

Applications for the 2026-2027 class are open through June 1, 2026!

Learn more and apply now: www.arc.gov/leadership