Over the past year, Southern Tier 8 Regional Board brought together SUD treatment facilities, educational providers, workforce investment boards and chambers to assess supports, identify community needs and develop strategies for strengthening recovery workforce supports across the Southern Tier. In November, the local partners applied for the Appalachian Regional Commission Investments Supporting Partnerships In Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) investment program.
For the next two years, ARC and local funding totaling $959,000 will provide workforce training & placement services for those in recovery and offer a workplace wellness program for businesses that would like to participate in the program.
Local investment partners include LEAF Council on Alcoholism & Addictions, Family Counseling Services of Cortland County, the Alcohol & Drug Council of Tompkins County, Broome Tioga Workforce Investment Board, the Greater Binghamton Chamber and Southern Tier 8 Regional Board. Additional investment partners include the US Economic Development Administration & New York State Department of State.
As many families have been impacted with substance use disorder & the regional workforce is at a record low unemployment rate, individuals in recovery can play a key role in expanding our businesses employment needs. Throughout this program, businesses will be provided with the training and understanding on how to work with such individuals to effectively fill vacant positions. With the program’s success, both parties (active-recovery individuals and employers) benefit, leading to stronger economies and healthier communities across our region.
Many thanks to ARC Federal Co-Chairman Tim Thomas for this investment of $480,000 to support the recovery workforce. This is the largest ARC single grant investment since 1981. See full video announcement with partners here: https://youtu.be/buq3wf_Vg7c
ARC is also offering another round of funding for workforce rentry, with letters of intent due May 17th, contact Jen Gregory at [email protected] for more information.
Learn more about the Appalachian Regional Commission & this investment at: https://www.arc.gov/sud/