Governor Andy Beshear, one of SOAR’s co-principal officers, has been elected by his fellow Appalachian governors to serve as states’ co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, also known as ARC, for 2023. 

In this role, Gov. Beshear will work alongside federal co-chair Gayle Manchin to lead the commission in strengthening economic and community growth across the 13 states of the region. 

Gov. Beshear speaking at the 2022 SOAR Summit in Pikeville, Ky.

“I am honored to have been chosen by my fellow Appalachian governors to co-chair the Appalachian Regional Commission. ARC investments are building better lives for current and future generations here in Kentucky and across the ARC region,” Gov. Beshear said. “Access to quality health care, a good paying job, and clean water should not be determined by your zip code. I want to thank my fellow ARC governors for entrusting me with this role, and I look forward to continuing our important work together.”

Gov. Beshear will serve as ARC’s 70th states’ co-chair and the first from Kentucky since his father, former Gov. Steve Beshear, who served the role in 2015.

“It is my honor to welcome Gov. Beshear as ARC’s 2023 states’ co-chair,” Manchin said. “I look forward to continuing to collaborate with him and all of our Appalachian governors as we advance ARC’s mission to bring economic parity and transformational opportunities to the region’s 26 million people.”

Kentucky will also host ARC’s annual conference in the fall of 2023.