BOONE, North Carolina, Jan. 5 -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release on Jan. 4, 2024: Today Appalachian Voices and Appalachian Voices Workers Union, a unit of the Progressive Workers Union, each announced their inaugural collective bargaining agreement. The agreement was ratified on Dec. 20, 2023. "We're proud to implement a union contract that reflects our shared values," said Appalachian Voices Executive Director Tom Cormons. "Throughout the bargaining process, we have been   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11140) on Jan. 4, 2024, by economic development policy analyst Julie M. Lawhorn. Here are excerpts: * * * Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities: Overview of Structure and Activities Federal regional commissions and authorities address perceived regional economic underdevelopment. These organizations generally accommodate multileveled and multijurisdictional participation and imple  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47831) on Nov. 8, 2023, entitled "Federal Economic Assistance for Coal Communities." The report was written by economic development policy analysts Julie M. Lawhorn and Adam G. Levin, environmental policy analyst Lance N. Larson, and labor policy analyst Benjamin Collins. Here are excerpts: * * * Federal Economic Assistance for Coal Communities Changes in energy production and markets broadl  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47831) on Nov. 8, 2023, entitled "Federal Economic Assistance for Coal Communities:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * Economic Diversification and Employment in Coal Communities In recent years, coal communities across the United States have faced a combination of interrelated economic diversification and employment challenges, including the following:/52 * declining coal-related tax reven  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47831) on Nov. 8, 2023, entitled "Federal Economic Assistance for Coal Communities:" (Continued from Part 2 of 3) * * * Policy Considerations Since FY2014, Congress has supported policies designed to address economic diversification, environmental challenges, and workforce and business development in coal communities. Should Congress continue to support programs to assist coal communities, po  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release: Charleston, WV - Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) attended and spoke at an event to celebrate the new LG NOVA Appalachian Innovation Corridor coming to West Virginia. The project will involve a $700 million investment over 5 years and will create approximately 275 new jobs. "It was great to be in Charleston today to celebrate the new Appalachian Innovation Corridor coming to our great state," Sena  more

SHEPHERDSTOWN, West Virginia, Jan. 3 -- Shepherd University issued the following news: The Center for Appalachian Studies and Communities will offer a storytelling institute for West Virginia teachers July 22-26 featuring award-winning storyteller Adam Booth. Thanks to a $16,000 grant from the West Virginia Humanities Council, kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers from across the state in all disciplines can participate, with preference given to humanities applicants. The institute, titled   more

BOONE, North Carolina, Jan. 1 -- Appalachian Voices issued the following statement on Dec. 30, 2023: * * * Yesterday, developers of the Mountain Valley Pipeline announced a dramatic reduction in their plans for the pipeline's Southgate extension. In an end-of-year Securities and Exchange Commission filing (https://ir.equitransmidstream.com/financial-reporting/sec-filings/sec-filings-details/default.aspx?FilingId=17152797), Equitrans Midstream said they were halving their plans for the pipelin  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 -- The Appalachian Regional Commission issued the following news release: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has been elected by his fellow Appalachian governors to serve as the 2024 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) states' co-chair. As part of ARC's unique federal-state partnership structure, the states' co-chair works collaboratively with the ARC federal co-chair and fellow Appalachian state governors to invest in economic and community growth across the region's 423 counties  more

ARLINGTON, Virginia, Jan. 3 (TNSres) -- The Nature Conservancy issued the following news: The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Idaho is pleased to welcome Meg Dolman and Grace Peven as our new Trustee Fellows. Designed to bring diverse perspectives and voices to TNC's leadership, the Trustee Fellowship is an opportunity to work with a global environmental organization, develop leadership abilities and networking, apply skills acquired as an undergraduate or graduate student in a real-world setting a  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Jan. 4 -- The Virginia Tourism Corporation issued the following news release on Jan. 3, 2024: Today, the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) released What's New in 2024, the agency's curated guide to what is new and noteworthy for the travel industry for the coming year. The guide is produced annually and offers a regional look at what's to come in 2024. To view the full What's New in 2024 guide, visit pressroom.virginia.org/whatsnew. Some of the new and noteworthy items fe  more