Economic Development:

Should the Appalachian Regional Commission Be Used as a Model for the Nation?

CED-79-50, Apr 27, 1979

Contact:

Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov

The Appalachian Regional Commission program is an experiment to see whether effective policy and plans can be made for the economic, social, and environmental growth and development of Appalachia. The Commission considers its program a model for the Nation and recommends the concept be expanded to a nationwide system of multistate commissions. However, such expansion would be premature until the problems and unresolved issues are thoroughly considered.

Problems include program planning and evaluation, fund allocation procedures, internal controls, and monitoring state expenditures.

Status Legend:

More Info
  • Review Pending-GAO has not yet assessed implementation status.
  • Open-Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned, or actions that partially satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-implemented-Actions that satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-not implemented-While the intent of the recommendation has not been satisfied, time or circumstances have rendered the recommendation invalid.
    • Review Pending
    • Open
    • Closed - implemented
    • Closed - not implemented

    Matter for Congressional Consideration

    Matter: Congress should amend the Appalachian Regional Development Act to require the Commission to monitor state expenditures in both the Appalachia and non-Appalachia parts of each state and establish a more current base level of state expenditures for the act's maintenance of effort requirement.

    Status: Closed

    Comments: Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.

    Recommendation for Executive Action

    Recommendation: The Commission should: (1) amend its basic policy to require that each state plan address the same development problems; (2) develop and adopt additional written guidelines for state and district planners; (3) use its regional development planning process to establish specific goals in terms of acceptable education, employment, health, housing, income, and other standard of living levels; (4) require states to provide some fixed minimum level of state financial contribution for nonhighway programs and limit each state's nonsupplemental use of supplemental funds; and (5) define more clearly what each state's evaluation capability should be, set target dates by which that capability should be in place, establish a long-range fiscal plan addressing future federal and state commitment to the program, and make provisions to evaluate program effectiveness within a reasonable period of time.

    Agency Affected:

    Status: Closed

    Comments: Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.