The Appalachian Regional Commission has released its annual Economic Status Designations.
The designations use an index-based economic classification system to monitor the economic status of Appalachia's 423 counties, which include Webster.
Designations help ARC determine grant match rates, identify research topics and direct investments to the region's most distressed communities.
ARC announced June 29 that the latest designations were available. Overall, the commission said it was encouraged by eight fewer "at-risk" counties and every Appalachian county either maintaining or improving its designation in Fiscal Year 2024:
• 82 counties classified as distressed
• 101 counties classified as at-risk (-eight vs. 2023)
• 225 counties classified as transitional (+seven vs. 2023)
• 11 counties classified as competitive (+one vs. 2023)
• Four counties classified as attainment
Th analysis is starting to reflect the economic impact of the COVID crisis as data covering that timeframe are now becoming available.
Webster County
Webster County is designated as an at-risk county in FY24, which is the same classification as FY 2023. The maximum ARC share for projects funded here is 70%
Webster has one distressed area, which is in the south-central part of the county bordering Choctaw. In some cases, specific areas within counties are considered economically distressed even if the county isn’t.
ARC assigns the “distressed area” designation to census tracts in at-risk and transitional counties that have a median family income no greater than 67% of the U.S. average and a poverty rate 150% of the U.S. average or greater.
Source: arc.gov
