On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-AL, released a statement celebrating the announcement that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) would award the West Alabama Chamber Foundation’s West Alabama Works program more than $1.4 million in grant funding.

“Today’s announcement continues an ongoing commitment for innovative economic development in Alabama’s coal-impacted communities,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Tim Thomas. “Investing in key regional needs now will benefit the Region, and the rest of the country well into the future.”

The grant is awarded through ARC’s Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) initiative and will support efforts to establish workforce development activities that include high school students, as well as underemployed and unemployed adults.

In conjunction with the ARC money, a patchwork of state sources will provide an additional $1.5 million to the project, bringing the total to more than $2.9 million.

“The Appalachian Regional Commission’s decision to continue investing in West Alabama Works is a testament to the program’s ability to promote workforce development,” Shelby said.  “It is critical that we support efforts to foster an environment that will produce a competitive workforce and lead to a stronger economy.  I look forward to seeing the lasting effects of this grant funding and the future growth that will stem from it.”

According to Shelby’s statement, the ARC POWER grant will benefit more than 1,600 workers in West Alabama and connect more than 1,000 people with employment opportunities.

The grant will fund a variety of training programs such as General Education Development, Test of Adult Basic Education, diplomas for high school students, short and long-term post-secondary training and more.

West Alabama Works will work in 10 counties that have been negatively impacted by the decline of coal production, including Bibb, Fayette, Hale, Pickens, Walker and others.

The organization is a part of AlabamaWorks, a network of interconnected providers of workforce services that train, prepare and match job seekers with employers.