“For decades, I have supported the Appalachian Regional Commission and its mission to

BRIDGES: Building Resilience via Investment & Growth in the South

The BRIDGES Conference was established in 2021 to equip communities in the Southeast Crescent Region of the US

About Us

Who are we?

The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission Coalition was organized in 2019 to mobilize a regional network of support to:

• encourage the region to support the activation

of the commission

• support collaboration between the regional

federal commission, federal state agencies,

philanthropy and local communities

• advocate for equity, inclusion and capacity

building of historically underinvested areas of the

region.

The network is comprised of dozens of leaders around the region in federal, state, and local government, academia, policy, community, and economic development.

The SCRC was established in 2008 to make direct federal investment in the Southeastern United States to have an impact on systemic, persistent poverty in the region.

why does it matter?

The Southeast Crescent region of the US, often referred to as the US Blackbelt is challenged with economic indicators that are in many cases parallel with those of an emerging nation.

Early in the same year as his death, President Kennedy, moved by the extreme poverty conditions that he found in Appalachia established the "President's Appalachian Regional Commission" to support the advancement of federal legislation to make direct federal investment in the region. Two years after his death, Congress passed the Appalachian Redevelopment Act, thereby creating the ARC as a federal agency.

Today, the ARC is responsible for the Appalachian Development Highway System, has invested and leveraged billions of dollars in infrastructure, industry, workforce development, education, regional analysis and other strategic investments to benefit the region and people of Appalachia. Outside of the Appalachian region of the country, the Blackbelt is the next largest contiguous region of systemic, persistent poverty in the US.

A 2002 study found that “If the economic gaps with the ARC were eliminated in the service sector alone, the Southeast Region would:

• Enjoy additional income of $15 billion.

• Boast 500,000 additional jobs.

• Return $3.2 billion to government coffers— $1 billion to state and local governments and an additional $2.2 billion to the federal treasury.” UGA, 2002

what you can do

Contact your Senator and Congressman/woman.

Although the Commission was created in 2008, unlike other commissions in smaller regions with fewer challenging economic indicators, the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission has never been put into operation.

Instead, the $30 million authorization has been reduced to a $250,000 annual appropriation that cannot be used until the commission is in operation which requires the appointment of a Federal Co-Chair by the President of the United States.

Once the Federal Co-Chair is appointment is made, the Senate can turn its attention to a proper appropriation to address the dire economic issues of the region and its citizens.

About the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC)

WHAT'S NEWS ABOUT THE SCRC

CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE REPORT on the scrc

An overview of the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission by the CRS

Current state support

Southeast Crescent Governor's Offices Who Have Stated Support for SCRC

Virginia - Governor Ralph Northam

North Carolina - Governor Roy Cooper

Georgia - Governor Brian Kemp

Governor's Offices Who Are Currently Researching SCRC

South Carolina - Governor Henry McMaster

Alabama - Governor Kay Ivey

Florida - Governor Ron DeSantis

Mississippi - Governor Phil Bryant

current congressional support

Alabama

Florida

Georgia

Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA)

Mississippi

North Carolina

South Carolina

Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC)

Virginia

Congresswoman Elaine Luria (D-VA)

upcoming events -

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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BRIDGES: Building Resilience via Investment & Growth in the South

Why Are Federal Commissions Important?

About Us

Who are we?

why does it matter?

what you can do

Contact Us

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Southeast Crescent Regional Commission Coalition

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