Spatial Investment Strategies of Federal Assistance to Appalachia

The federal government has been involved in Appalachia's development since 1965, when President Johnson signed the Appalachian Regional Development Act creating the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). The ARC is a unique federal-state program aimed at stimulating economic development and ameliorating the social and economic malaise in Appalachia. ARC programs comprise two broad initiatives—highway and area development. The purpose of this paper is to identify the spatial strategies used in carrying out ARC's area development programs—particularly health, education, and community development—and, through cartographic analysis, to examine the resultant investment patterns. This research relied primarily on ARC policy documents and a database of funded projects, provided by the agency. Most ARC spatial investment strategies made certain that all areas were eligible for funds. Two exceptions to this strategy were early health care expenditures and funds for health, education, and community development after 1982. Spatial patterns of expenditures reflect these different strategies. Today's leading strategy sets aside additional funding for the most economically depressed counties and makes economically strong counties ineligible for funding.