Federal officials announce jobs pact for Appalachia

Associated Press

ABINGDON, Va.

Eight federal agencies signed an agreement Friday to work with the Appalachian Regional Commission to help boost the region’s economy.

Officials who participated in the announcement at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon said the deal will not increase funding for the 13-state region but should help ensure that money is well spent.

“It’s about strategic investment,” said Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan.

The agreement establishes an Interagency Coordinating Council, consisting of representatives from each participating federal agency, to coordinate activities and collaborate with state and local government.

Along with the USDA, federal participants are the departments of Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services and Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Small Business Administration.

Commission states are Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee.