Earl F. Gohl, federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, will be at UT on Tuesday, November 12, to participate in a panel about the past, present, and future of the Appalachian region.
Free and open to the public, the event begins at 3:00 p.m. in the Toyota Auditorium of the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy. The program is being sponsored by the Department of Political Science.
Panel participants will discuss a wide range of topics related to the region, including regional change, issues and challenges, and opportunities for new growth in Appalachia.
Gohl was unanimously confirmed as federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission by the U.S. Senate in 2010. He is the eleventh federal co-chair to be appointed since the commission was established.
Established by an act of Congress in 1965, the Appalachian Regional Commission is a regional economic development agency that represents a partnership of federal, state, and local government. The commission is composed of the governors of the thirteen Appalachian states and a federal co-chair, who is appointed by the president. Local participation is provided through multi county local development districts.
The Appalachian Regional Commission’s mission is to be a strategic partner and advocate for sustainable community and economic development in Appalachia.
Each year the Appalachian Regional Commission provides funding for several hundred projects 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.
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C O N T A C T :
Tim Ezzell (865-974-9036, tezzell@utk.edu)