This September Ashland will host the Appalachian Regional Commission Annual Conference. Hundreds are expected from the 13 states that make up the ARC. West Virginia native Gayle Manchin, Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission told Eyewitness News that the conference will bring people from 13 states to the region. The Appalachian Regional Commission Annual Conference will be held September 11-12. Officials say the economic impact of the conference is expected to spill over into Ohio and West Virginia.