Goodwill Industries of Kentucky has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to help launch the Gateway from Recovery to Work (GRW) initiative, which will create a recovery-to-work ecosystem in the five-county Gateway Area Development District (Bath, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan and Rowan Counties).
The GRW initiative will allow Goodwill to create a network of 19 recovery stakeholders from the five counties. The group will meet at least quarterly to identify recovery service gaps based on the experience of their staff and clients served and develop action items for mitigating these gaps.
“I’m proud to have worked with the Appalachian Regional Commission and Goodwill Industries to secure this transformative grant, which will help build a comprehensive recovery-to-work ecosystem across our region,” said Sen. Greg Elkins (R–Winchester). “This funding will provide those in recovery with vocational training, supportive services and barrier-removal planning, ensuring they have the resources needed to succeed. This initiative is about giving people a second chance, empowering them with the skills to rebuild their lives and contribute to our local economy.”
The initiative will provide at least 60 Kentuckians ages 18 and older in recovery with vocational training, supportive services, barrier-removal planning and support, industry-recognized credential training, job placement assistance and case-managed pre- and post-employment support over 20 months. The total project budget is $625,590, with Goodwill subsidizing costs outside of ARC’s grant award.
“This investment represents a second chance for so many in our region,” said Sen. Brandon Smith (R-Hazard). “The Gateway from Recovery to Work initiative will provide the resources and support people need to regain control of their lives and build a stable future for their families. I’m grateful to Goodwill Industries and the Appalachian Regional Commission for their ongoing efforts to support Kentuckians on the path to recovery.”
The grant is part of ARC’s Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) initiative, which aims to address the impact of substance use disorder in Appalachia with investments in projects that create or expand services in the recovery ecosystem leading to workforce entry and re-entry.
“This support from the Appalachian Regional Commission will create meaningful opportunities for Kentuckians in recovery,” said Sen. Steve West (R-Paris). “The Gateway from Recovery to Work initiative will give people the skills and support they need to not only re-enter the workforce but also rebuild their lives. I commend Goodwill Industries for leading this charge in our region and for their commitment to helping individuals and families regain hope and stability.”
ARC announced that it awarded nearly $11.5 million to 39 projects, one of them being the GRW initiative. ARC’s 2024 INSPIRE grantees will strengthen the substance use disorder recovery ecosystem in 127 counties in nine Appalachian states – Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia – by expanding recovery-focused partnerships, peer support and other wraparound services, and skills and workforce training programs that help prepare individuals in recovery for meaningful job opportunities.
“Substance use disorder is a region-wide epidemic that impacts Appalachian families and community workforces,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin in a release. “I commend our 2024 INSPIRE grantees for their dedication in helping Appalachians who have struggled with substance use disorder regain a sense of hope and purpose by enabling them to rejoin their communities, bolster workforce development, and make positive impacts on the region.”