Opportunity Appalachia

Application Process

1. Download Application Materials
- Download the Opportunity Appalachia Application PDF from the website
- Review additional background and instructions provided in PDF
- Contact state lead (listed on page 2 of PDF) for application support

2. Application Submission Method
- Submit via Online Application Form (online portal)
- Email inquiries to oa@acc1.org for technical issues

3. Submission Deadline
- April 12, 5:00pm ET

Application Form Components (Step 1 of 5)

Lead Contact Information:

Narrative Response Questions (2,500 character limit per question)

1. Communities Targeted (Required)
- Municipality(ies), county(ies), and census tract(s)
- Reference Appendix I in PDF for eligible counties list

2. Service Area of Applicant (Required)
- Note if different from communities targeted, or confirm same

3. Community Development Strategy (Required)
- Identify strategy (e.g., housing, downtown development, manufacturing, IT, healthcare, education, food systems, clean energy, heritage tourism and recreation, addiction treatment and recovery, or describe other strategies)
- Describe how strategy aligns with broader community-identified plans or priorities
- Include level of community engagement and support for strategy or specific project

4. Proposed Projects (Required)
- Up to 3 projects
- For each project provide:
- Project name and address
- Size (sq ft)
- Total anticipated project cost
- Financing identified/anticipated (source and amount or 'None')
- Project description with URL link if available
- Community Impact (quantified/estimated): job creation (number, pay rates, benefits), training and advancement opportunities, jobs for unemployed/underemployed, economic diversification, vibrant places for follow-on investment, other impacts
- Name(s) of project sponsors, developer, and/or business owner
- Technical Assistance Needed (e.g., business plan development, financial pro forma development, financial structuring, market assessment, feasibility assessment, developer identification, architectural drawings, capital raise)

5. Clean Energy Focus (Required)
- Describe clean energy features (solar power generation, energy efficiency measures, etc.)
- Quantify anticipated impacts
- If not described in project section, describe here

6. Applicant Capacity (Required)
- Describe relationship of applicant to community
- Explain how community has demonstrated support for project(s)
- Describe applicant's capacity for completing or overseeing project activities

7. Provision of Technical Assistance (Required)
- Choose option 7(b) OR 7(c):

7(b): Applicant has identified Technical Assistance provider(s)
- Provide cost estimates from potential providers
- Provide name(s) and contact information of preferred TA providers (up to 3):
- Contact name
- Company name
- Address (street, city, state, ZIP)
- Email
- Phone
- URL
- Note: Each TA provider must complete Request for Qualifications (Appendix III) to be eligible
- If project selected, TA provider proposals will be reviewed for adequacy and cost effectiveness

7(c): Applicant requests Opportunity Appalachia identify suitable TA providers
- Check box requesting program to identify/recommend suitable TA organizations

8. Match Requirement (Required)
- Attest: "If selected to participate in the Opportunity Appalachia program, our community commits to provide $5,000 of cash or in-kind matching support for this effort"

9. Attestation (Required)
- Date of submission (Month/Day/Year)
- Name of person signing (Required)
- Title (Required)
- Organization (Required)

Key Application Notes

• Narrative responses limited to 2,500 characters unless otherwise noted
• Save and Continue Later functionality available between form sections
• Applications must be submitted via online form to be considered
• For technical issues, email oa@acc1.org
• For application support, contact your state lead (page 2 of PDF application)