More than 150 people from three dozen North Alabama counties got together in Cullman this week to hone their grant-seeking skills, learning from state and federal leaders on hand to explain how public agencies can access federal funds appropriated through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).

The ARC is a federal-state partnership agency that spreads appropriated funds to public entities across 13 participating states — including 37 counties in North Alabama. Cullman served as the home for this year’s annual workshop, drawing leaders from the region’s towns, nonprofits and educational institutions seeking grants the commission helps secure.

Alabama ARC Program Manager Bonnie Durham said the workshop helps local leaders understand what resources are available, as well as how to manage grant applications to ensure they meet the necessary requirements.

“We have mayors and town clerks; planning districts; really a variety of people,” said Durham.

“The workshop is attended by people from all over the northern part of the state, people who are interested in understanding how our program works, how they can access us, and then take that information back to the entities they represent and begin the application process, when they begin seeking funding for a qualifying project. It’s a small program, but it’s a very flexible grant program — and I think that’s been very helpful, over the years, in meeting the needs of people on a very local level.”

Sammie Danford, director of the Cullman County Economic Development Office, said ARC assistance has benefited the area on several fronts over the years.

“If you look around at what they have done to work with the city and county, as well as with the school systems and Wallace State Community College, it’s pretty easy to see how important a role the ARC has played in helping create jobs in our area,” said Danford.

Indeed, the ARC has assisted with a diverse array of local projects, including a recent grant for Wallace State’s Appalachian Regional Center for Entrepreneurship and Renewable Energy Technologies. It secured $100,000 last year to help the Cullman City School system acquire iPads and related  technological training for teachers. And, the ARC provided the original $5 million grant that began the site-testing phase for the Duck River Dam project two decades ago.

Cullman Economic Development Agency assistant director Dale Greer said Wednesday ARC funding has been vital in helping realize a lot of projects that bring jobs and tighter infrastructure to the city.

“We’ve had money from ARC to help us with workforce development programs; infrastructural grants; ball parks,” Greer said.

“They’re a great resource, but because they offer such a broad range of services, it’s not always easy for local public entities to know how to go through the grant process. That’s what these workshops are all about — to help explain, primarily, how to follow the general parameters and to know what types of projects can qualify.”

For more information on ARC resources available to local governments, schools and other nonprofit entities, visit the national website at www.arc.gov and the Alabama website at www.adeca.alabama.gov.

* Benjamin Bullard can be reached by e-mail at bbullard@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.