The Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA) had developed a new publication with the assistance of NADO. The Executive Summary of the report focuses on the role of the DDAA’s Local Development District in fostering regional strategies, partnerships, and solutions. (View the new DDAA publication.)
The DDAA comprises the network of 73 multi-county development districts (LDDs) serving the 13-state, 420-county Appalachian region. Guided by the principle that local governments and communities can accomplish more by working together rather than individually, the DDAA serves as a catalyst for partnership, progress and prosperity throughout the Appalachian region. LDDs provide the knowledge and expertise to connect local governments with the private sector, leveraging the necessary resources to reduce isolation and drive the Appalachian region into the global economy. Development District Association of Appalachia: Jobs and Sustained Economic Growth, Workforce Readiness, Modern Infrastructure Asset, Quality of Life, Vibrant Communities was designed as a tool that can be utilized to market your regions, brand the DDAA and Appalachian Regional Commission as crucial federal partners, and showcase innovative and important projects that have positioned the region to compete in the global economy. Through partnerships and collaboration, DDAA’s network of LDDs has been integral in reducing poverty and isolation while increasing access to technology and advancing the region’s workforce. The network of LDDs have prepared the Appalachian region to advance the Obama Administration’s stated goals of creating an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, and skilled American workers. In the recent years the members of the DDAA have:
- LDDs have administered over 9,500 grants and projects with proven accountability and results, totaling more than $6.2 billion in pass-through and programmatic funds, during the past two decades.
- The combined business development loan portfolio invested more than $523 million in gap financing for businesses and entrepreneurs. We have made more than 3,500 business loans, leveraging an additional $1.3
- billion from the private sector in underserved regions and for companies and entrepreneurs struggling to secure traditional bank financing.
- Almost 70,000 jobs have been created or retained, and 125,000 workforce clients were prepared to contribute to the region’s economy as a result of our LDD programs.
- Some 3.6 million seniors benefited from aging programs administered by LDDs in parts of the region, including through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Area Agency on Aging program.
Click here to download a power point of the report.
