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Download guidelines for the Kentucky ARC Flex-E-Grant application

The Center for Rural Development, in partnership with the Kentucky Department for Local Government (DLG) and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), is accepting grant proposals for the 2019 KY-ARC Flex-E-Grant program.

*Deadline for application: March 22, 2019 ***

Counties eligible to apply for the 2019 KY-ARC Flex-E-Grant program include Adair, Bath, Bell, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Rockcastle, Russell, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe.


Competitive grants up to $10,000 are available for city and county governments and eligible non-profits organizations in 35 ARC economically distressed Southern and Eastern Kentucky counties for community capacity building projects.

The Flex-E-Grant program, designed by the ARC, provides strategic investments in projects that build community capacity to mobilize resources, gain leadership experience, and strengthen community institutions and networks.

The Center, ARC, and DLG seek to fund proposals that strengthen economic growth and development in Kentucky’s distressed Appalachian counties. Proposals that build capacity through the promotion, support, and advancement of economic development will have priority.

  • Economic Development – includes strategic planning, regional collaboration, entrepreneurial and business development projects.
  • Ready Workforce – includes workforce education, retraining, recovery and health projects.
  • Natural and Cultural – includes tourism, natural resources and cultural opportunities that strengthen the local economy.
  • Leadership and Community Capacity – includes leadership development, youth engagement, planning, and training projects.

Grants are subject to approval for up to $10,000, require a 20 percent match of the total project costs, and are to be completed within a six-month timeframe.

All proposals must be submitted to The Center by March 22, 2019. Digital files are preferred and may be emailed to arc@centertech.com.

For more information or questions about the application process, call 606-677-6110 or email psimpson@centertech.com.

Grant awards will be announced in May 2019.

The Center administers program funds in partnership with the Kentucky Department for Local Government and the Appalachian Regional Commission.