Origin & Functions

At an Annapolis meeting, governors of Appalachian states formed the Conference of Appalachian Governors in 1960. Thereafter, a federal-state committee, known as the President's Appalachian Regional Commission, formed in 1963.

In 1965, the Appalachian Regional Commission was created by the federal Appalachian Regional Development Act (P.L. 89-4). The Commission is a congressionally funded federal-state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. The Commission's jurisdiction includes 410 counties in thirteen member states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The Appalachian region includes the Western Maryland counties of Washington, Allegany, and Garrett.

To develop the region, the Commission seeks to increase job opportunities and per capita income, and improve local infrastructure. Grass roots participation in Commission work is provided through local development districts. These are multicounty agencies headed by local leaders.

The Commission consists of fourteen members: the governors of the thirteen Appalachian states, and a federal co-chair. Maryland's Governor serves as the Maryland member of the Commission and designates an alternate, who oversees Maryland's part of the Commission program (Code Economic Development Article, secs. 13-101 through 13-103).

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e-mail: mdmanual@maryland.gov