Building Hope in Appalachia: ASP Secures Funding for Long-Term Disaster Recovery and Resilience

October 31, 2024

?Washington, D.C. – Appalachia Service Project (ASP) has received a crucial $10 million grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to accelerate disaster recovery and housing repair efforts across Appalachia. Awarded under ARC’s ARISE initiative, the funding was timely, arriving just days before Hurricane Helene swept through the region, highlighting ASP’s essential role in supporting Appalachian families and communities through severe crises.

Partnering with Merchant McIntyre since 2021, ASP has strategically secured federal funding to further its mission of making homes warmer, safer, and drier across Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Since its founding in 1969, ASP has transformed thousands of homes, each year engaging more than 15,000 volunteers who deliver critical repairs for over 350 families in need.

The Appalachian region has faced escalating natural disasters, impacting communities such as Dry Creek, Tennessee; Rainelle, West Virginia; and multiple towns across eastern Kentucky. Time and again, ASP has mobilized to help families rebuild their homes and restore their lives—at no cost to those in need. Hurricane Helene, which recently struck ASP’s service area directly, underscored the nonprofit’s vital role in disaster recovery for vulnerable communities.

Reflecting on ASP’s mission and the recent hurricane recovery efforts, ASP President and CEO Melisa Winburn said, “Today, we’re celebrating a milestone made possible by your vital support: the first 25 homes for Hurricane Helene survivors are fully funded! We are also excited to announce that ASP is committed to repairing or replacing at least 200 homes for families impacted by the storm. We love this region and are committed to its long-term recovery.”

?The $10 million ARISE grant, granted just a week before Hurricane Helene’s landfall, has been instrumental in bolstering ASP's relief efforts. The ARC, a federal-state partnership serving 423 counties, developed the ARISE initiative to build economic resilience and support recovery in the region. This funding was mobilized quickly, allowing ASP to begin immediate relief operations in response to the hurricane’s devastation.

?ASP’s initiatives under ARISE include two critical programs to strengthen Appalachian communities’ resilience. The first focuses on creating three community-based centers dedicated to affordable housing and long-term disaster recovery across Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. The second program is designed to boost local capacity for disaster response, with ASP and the THRIVE Consortium (Transforming Homes and Rebuilding in Vulnerable Environments) offering rapid response and hazard mitigation training to help communities thrive in the face of adversity. These centers will operate as regional hubs for Appalachia Rebuild & Recovery, ASP’s long-term disaster recovery program.

?The $10 million ARISE grant will fund approximately 60% of ASP’s five-year disaster resilience project, enabling the organization to address natural disasters that may not qualify for federal FEMA assistance. With this grant, ASP is positioned to continue its vital work, providing a lifeline to Appalachian communities during crises and laying the groundwork for sustainable recovery and economic growth.