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George Ivey The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) named George Ivey, North Carolina Development Director for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation to participate in the 2024-2025 class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, a leadership training opportunity that equips Appalachian community leaders to use economic development as a tool to drive positive change. The 2024-2025 class comprises a diverse network of professionals representing all 13 Appalachian states and a wide spectrum of perspectives and sectors, including tourism, healthcare, education, civil service, and more.
The nine-month curriculum is anchored by six multi-day seminars across the Appalachian region focusing on each of ARC’s strategic investment priorities, which aim to strengthen economic and community growth in Appalachia. The class will run from October 2024 through July 2025, focusing on skill-building seminars and best practice reviews to prepare fellows to:
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Design effective economic development project proposals
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Integrate community assets into long-term economic development strategies
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Identify resources available to spark economic and community development
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Locate and access investment capital from a variety of public and private sources
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Prepare competitive applications for public grant opportunities
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Use expanded connections and leadership skills to create strong regional partnerships
“The Appalachian Leadership Institute supports the enduring work of Appalachia’s changemakers, while helping them advance their skillsets and build upon valuable regional connections with likeminded leaders,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “I send my sincerest congratulations to our newest round of ALI fellows knowing their passion and purpose will ensure an even more vibrant future for Appalachia’s communities.”
Appalachian Leadership Institute fellows were selected via a competitive application process to reflect the Appalachian region’s wide range of economic development challenges, opportunities, and strategies.
Upon completion of the program, Ivey will automatically become part of the Appalachian Leadership Institute Alumni Network, a peer-to-peer working group of experts helping foster collaborative solutions that will build a stronger future for Appalachia.
“We are delighted that George Ivey was selected to be a fellow for the Appalachian Leadership Institute,” said Carolyn Ward, CEO of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. “The Appalachian communities that surround the Blue Ridge Parkway will certainly benefit from his participation in this amazing program.”
To learn more about the program, visit: https://www.arc.gov/academies-and-institutes/leadership/. To meet the 2024-2025 class of fellows and learn more about how they are working to transform their Appalachian communities, visit this link.
About the Appalachian Leadership Institute
The Appalachian Leadership Institute is a comprehensive regional leadership training program developed by the Appalachian Regional Commission in partnership with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; The Howard H. Baker Center for Public Policy; Tuskegee University; and Collective Impact. Learn more at https://www.arc.gov/academies-and-institutes/leadership/.
About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development entity of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. Learn more at https://www.arc.gov/.