Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) on Tuesday was unanimously nominated to serve as co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), a partnership of the federal government and 13 states focused on fostering economic development in the region.
Elected by Appalachia’s 13 governors, the co-chair for the states leads the ARC in partnership with the federal co-chair, Gayle Manchin, who was nominated to the position by President Biden. Manchin is the wife of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).
Once confirmed to the post by his fellow governors, Hogan will succeed Virginia Gov. Ralph S. Northam (D) as the states’ co-chair, and take over on Jan. 1. The nomination took place during the commission’s meeting this week in St. Paul, Va., where Hogan joined Northam and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D).
“At this regional summit, we have had productive discussions about the successes and the great potential of Appalachia to drive more economic growth and upward mobility,” Hogan said in a statement. “The commission is a unique partnership of states committed to capitalizing on the unique resources and strengths of the region. It will be my honor on behalf of all Marylanders to serve as co-chair of the commission.”
Besides Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, the other states that make up the ARC are: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
This will be the first time that a Maryland governor has held the post of ARC co-chair since Gov. William Donald Schaefer (D) in 1992.