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In Appalachia, Trump’s proposed budget has people worried

FILE - In this Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, file photo, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin speaks to a joint session of the Kentucky legislature during the State of the Commonwealth address, in Frankfort, Ky. President Donald Trump's proposal to eliminate the Appalachian Regional Commission has alarmed many throughout the region that have relied on the federal agency for a job. Much of the region is still crippled by poverty, and a new generation of Republican leaders who are frustrated with government programs now run several states. That includes Bevin. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)
FILE - In this Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, file photo, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin speaks to a joint session of the Kentucky legislature during the State of the Commonwealth address, in Frankfort, Ky. President Donald Trump's proposal to eliminate the Appalachian Regional Commission has alarmed many throughout the region that have relied on the federal agency for a job. Much of the region is still crippled by poverty, and a new generation of Republican leaders who are frustrated with government programs now run several states. That includes Bevin. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File) FILE - In this Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, file photo, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin speaks to a joint session of the Kentucky legislature during the State of the Commonwealth address, in Frankfort, Ky. President Donald Trump's proposal to eliminate the Appalachian Regional Commission has alarmed many throughout the region that have relied on the federal agency for a job. Much of the region is still crippled by poverty, and a new generation of Republican leaders who are frustrated with government programs now run several states. That includes Bevin. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)

By Associated Press 4 min read

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Crystal Snyder was trying to figure out life as a single mom when she lost her job at a West Virginia T-shirt factory.

The 37-year-old had no college degree, mostly because she married at 16, divorced at 19 and had two children. Unsure what to do, Snyder heard about a program through the Coalfield Development Corp. that would hire her and pay for her to get an associate’s degree. Now she works full time for one of the nonprofit’s agriculture offshoots.

“I’m learning how to be a farmer. I’m growing food, I’m going to school,” she said. “It has helped me in ways I can’t even understand yet.”

Coalfield Development Corp. is a nonprofit funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission. The ARC is a 52-year-old federal agency that seeks to create jobs in 420 counties across 13 states, including the West Virginia and Kentucky coalfields.

It’s also targeted for elimination by President Donald Trump.