PITTSBURGH, April 24, 2019- The Pittsburgh Promise received $100,000 in federal funding grants from The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). ARC is an economic development agency composed of the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a federal co-chair which awards grants from funds appropriated to the Commission annually by Congress. The Pittsburgh Promise fulfills the Ready Workforce goal of the ARC which strives to: increase the education, knowledge, skills, and health of residents to work and succeed in Appalachia. Since 2008, over 8,800 Pittsburgh Promise scholarship recipients have enrolled in 136 post-secondary institutions across Pennsylvania. Included in the thousands of students who have received a Promise scholarship to pursue higher education in Pennsylvania are over 3,000 Promise Alumni who have earned a degree, many of whom are contributing their skills and talents as employees in our region. With hundreds of Pittsburgh Promise Scholars graduating with a degree each year, Promise Alumni are a pipeline for regional employers’ workforce needs and help to ensure that ARC counties (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Bradford, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lawrence, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, and Wyoming) continue their economic renewal. “Education is the cornerstone of workforce development and, in turn, the health of the economy,” Governor Wolf said. “This grant will assist the Pittsburgh Promise in its mission to provide scholarships to high school graduates. When students get help with the finances of obtaining professional certificates or degrees, it means greater opportunity for their future careers – and a stronger Pennsylvania.” About The Pittsburgh PromiseThe Pittsburgh Promise promotes high educational aspirations among urban youth, funds scholarships for post-secondary access, and fuels a prepared and diverse regional workforce. To date, The Promise has invested more than $130 million in scholarships to send over 8,800 urban youth to a post-secondary institution. Nearly 3,000 Promise Scholars have graduated, and many are now working, and giving back, in the Pittsburgh region. Pittsburgh has the largest Promise program in the United States. About The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)The Appalachian Regional Commission is a regional economic development agency that represents a partnership of federal, state, and local government. Established by an act of Congress in 1965, ARC is composed of the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a federal co-chair, who is appointed by the president. Each year ARC provides funding for several hundred investments in the Appalachian Region, in areas such as business development, education and job training, telecommunications, infrastructure, community development, housing, and transportation. These projects create thousands of new jobs; improve local water and sewer systems; increase school readiness; expand access to health care; assist local communities with strategic planning; and provide technical and managerial assistance to emerging businesses. Contact: Lauren Bachorski, The Pittsburgh Promise 412-973-6080, lauren@pittsburghpromise.org Michael Gerber, PA Department of Community & Economic Development 717-783-1132, mgerber@pa.gov # # # #
