WASHINGTON, December 8, 2008—The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has announced the winners of the second round of its grants competition to assist Appalachian communities in leveraging renewable-energy and energy-efficiency resources to revitalize their economies. Grants totaling $546,000 were awarded to nine winners from six Appalachian states for projects promoting renewable energy production, energy-efficient facilities, and energy-related training and certification programs.

Grants were awarded to:

• The Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, to establish an energy business revolving loan fund that will support graduates of a new energy business "boot camp" providing intensive performance-based entrepreneurial training and mentoring.
• The Mountain Valley Resource Conservation and Development Area (North Carolina), to help install wind turbines at Madison County Public School sites and at the Madison County Cooperative Extension Service.
• The Hocking College Energy Institute (Ohio), to support courses and business assistance promoting wind and solar energy development, biofuels production, fuel cell development, and LEED building design and certification.
• The Juniata Valley School District (Pennsylvania), to install energy efficiency equipment as part of a high school renovation program and energy efficiency curriculum in its K–12 schools.
• Cleveland State Community College (Tennessee), to expand an existing energy efficiency training and education program.
• The Appalachian Sustainable Energy and Agriculture Project (Tennessee), to install passive solar greenhouses on a closed county landfill and provide training and technical support to local agriculture enterprises.
• The City of Kingsport (Tennessee), to develop a new LEED-certified education facility, which will incorporate a range of green architecture and energy-efficient technologies.
• The West Virginia Division of Energy, to hold a series of energy efficiency training workshops in seven counties targeting building professionals, including contractors, home builders, building code officials, local government officials, architects, realtors, and other interested parties.
• The Natural Capital Investment Fund (West Virginia), to provide loan capital, training, and technical assistance for energy-efficiency upgrades and renewable-energy businesses.