The Central Appalachian Network strives to maximize the impact of collective work by fostering peer-to-peer learning and economic opportunities.
ACRR Mini Grant
Applications Open May 7th
The Community Resilience and Adaptation Working Group (CRAWG) of the Central Appalachian Network (CAN) is launching the Appalachian Community Resilience + Response Mini Grant Program (ACRR). This catalytic mini-grant program aims to support local communities and organizations throughout Central Appalachia in increasing their community’s ability to adapt to, prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters and changes in environmental conditions by taking advantage of near-term state and local opportunities to continue making progress and building power for long-term systems change in communities looking to grow their resilience to natural disasters. They will be awarding 12-15 grants of $5K-12K each.
Example projects that will be awarded include (but are not limited to): deep community engagement activities around climate resilience to kick off larger programming/projects, individual farmers implementing conservation or energy efficiency practices, emergency response volunteer/mutual aid networks that support in developing or implementing their response or recovery plans, using arts/creativity to engage the community, collecting and using stories and art from natural disaster survivors, or organizing community wide mitigation/adaptation planning. Full RFP & outline will be available when grant opens.
How We Work
CAN is a network of networks led by a Leadership Team comprising a cohort of mentor organizations alongside the co-chairs of each Working Group. The Working Groups are sector-focused networks that coordinate regional analysis and strategies in areas such as Energy; Food and Sustainable Agricultural Systems; Reuse (Materials management and circular economy); Community Resilience; and Ecological Restoration. The larger Central Appalachian Network includes the participants of these sector-based Working Groups, along with an open invitation to those that wish to engage CAN in their own work and community.
Our network of practitioner partners includes nearly 100 different organizations working on community economic development, including nonprofits, local government agencies, lenders, community groups, social enterprises, and academic institutions. These networks are creating economic opportunities that are building on our cultural assets, natural resources, and meeting the needs of our region’s people.