Who May Apply: (specifically) Applicants from the Appalachian region apply to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). The Appalachian Regional Development Act (ARDA) defines the Appalachian region as all of West Virginia and the Appalachian portions of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Once ARC has selected the applicants to be funded, the Department of Education makes the awards and administers the grants.