Ohio receives $2.1 million to support recovery-to-work initiatives in Appalachia
Governor Mike DeWine and Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik this week announced that six Ohio projects have been awarded through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Investments Supporting Partnerships In Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative.
The INSPIRE initiative supports efforts to connect individuals in recovery with workforce training, career opportunities, and the wraparound supports needed to succeed. Ohio is receiving a total of $2.1 million, more than any other state in this year's awards. In total, ARC awarded $11 million to 32 projects in nine states to improve businesses and prepare individuals for new opportunities in the workforce.
“Ohio is stronger when its residents are healthy and have opportunities to contribute to their communities,” said Governor DeWine. “With the right support, Ohioans in recovery can build stable careers, provide for their families, and be a part of Ohio’s growing economy.”
Ohio projects will expand workforce training and career pathways for people in recovery, strengthen recovery ecosystems, create innovative workforce pipelines in in-demand fields like healthcare, and conduct new research and planning to align recovery housing with workforce needs.
• Included in the initiative is an ARC Grant of $500,000 to the Community Action Committee (CAC) of Pike County in Piketon, Ohio, for the Stronger Futures Initiative: Career Transitions to Recovery. Focusing on Adams, Brown, Pike and Scioto counties, the project partners – including Community Action Organization of Scioto County and Adams-Brown Community Action Partnership - will work with CAC Pike County to coordinate and provide workforce training and recovery support services. This project will enhance their existing Transitions program to strengthen the regional recovery ecosystem through personalized case management, workforce training and recovery support services. It is anticipated that 80 workers and 50 businesses will be served.
“This is a great example of meeting people where they are,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development, which houses the Governor’s Office of Appalachia. “By investing in both individuals and the systems that support them, we’re helping Ohioans in recovery succeed while making our communities stronger places to live and work.”
Since INSPIRE was established in April 2021, ARC has invested nearly $65.7 million in 200 projects across 380 Appalachian counties. Of those projects, 27 totaling more than $9.3 million have been in Ohio.
“In order to have a healthy Appalachian economy, we must make sure we have a healthy Appalachian workforce,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “I am so proud of the way ARC’s INSPIRE initiative ecosystem empowers Appalachians in substance use disorder recovery to gain the training, resources and support they need to enter or re-enter the workforce while also becoming productive members of their families and communities.”
The Ohio Governor’s Office of Appalachia works with Ohio’s Local Development Districts to put together and review projects to be submitted to the ARC for funding.
Additional information can be found at ARC.gov/INSPIRE. Ohio community organizations interested in applying for future funding can contact their Local Development District or the Governor’s Office of Appalachia.
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