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College Receives ARC Grant To Assist With Expansion

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has been awarded a $49,500 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to support the acquisition of equipment and supplies for its new location in Centre County.

Announced at the end of last month, this grant offers crucial financial support for Centre County, helping cover the $99,000 cost of supplies and equipment for the new facility.

Penn Highlands previously received support from the ARC in Washington, D.C., notably in the acquisition of classroom and lab equipment for the College’s Blair Center in 2018.

“We want to emphasize the positive impact this grant will have as we work to provide new types of quality, affordable educational opportunities to students in and around Centre County,” stated Omar Strohm, Associate Vice President of Finance. “We want our students to have the most impactful resources available at their disposal.”

To secure the grant, the College underwent an application process that included contributions from Penn Highlands administration and staff, along with personnel from SEDA-COG in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. This process involved developing a project narrative, setting goals, and establishing performance measurements and expectations for the location.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is committed to delivering accessible, affordable, and high-quality educational opportunities to the communities it serves. Many rural counties, including Centre County, lack significant access to a community college.

Recognizing the presence of other esteemed postsecondary institutions in Centre County, Penn Highlands offers complementary and unique academic programs, and additional opportunities to earn a degree or certificate.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Since 1994, the College has served over 67,000 community members throughout its service region.

About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Region Commission is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments, including Pennsylvania. PA’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) partners with ARC and the SEDA-COG Local Development District to identify and support projects that will build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in the Appalachian counties of Pennsylvania to reach socioeconomic parity with the nation.