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The Bush administration cut the Appalachian Regional Commission funding in half,
from $66 million to $33 million.
The ARC is a joint federal-state agency that provides federal money for programs in 13 states. West Virginia is the only
state contained entirely within the Appalachian region.
Of the states 55 counties, 27 are listed by the commission as
economically distressed, including Calhoun, Wirt, Clay, Roane and several other central West Virginia counties.
The Appalachian Regional Commission could be getting back the funding cut through a Senate Appropriations Committee
bill passed Wednesday.
The Calhoun Commission is looking at ARC grant projects, with a decision to be made at the commission's fourth meeting
this month on July 28th.
The money is used for projects such as job training, health clinics, building roads and sewer lines.
ARC money is not being utilized in the water line extension to Sand Ridge-Russett-Chloe.
The restoration bill must be approved by their respective chambers and sent to a conference committee.
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