Appalachian Regional Commission INSPIRE Substance Use Disorder Recovery to Work Initiative Application Deadline: March 17, 2023

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), a federal-state partnership working to strengthen economic growth and community development in 13 Appalachian states, has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for its Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) initiative. The grant program addresses the region’s substance use disorder (SUD) crisis with investments up to $13 million in the creation and expansion of a SUD recovery ecosystem that helps facilitate workforce entry and re-entry.

Awards issued through the INSPIRE initiative will support a wide variety of projects on the post-treatment to employment continuum, including:

• Investments in healthcare networks to better meet the needs of SUD recovery professionals
• Recovery-focused job and workforce training programs
• Expanded recovery support networks
• Training and certification of recovery specialists

Successful INSPIRE grant applications will demonstrate the potential for individuals in recovery to obtain and maintain stable employment, with a focus on contributing to and expanding a strong recovery ecosystem of support services and training opportunities that lead to successful entry and re-entry into the workforce. Proposals may also include expanded community-and partnership-based approaches to establish stronger coordination among recovery and training services, as well as strategies to integrate plans with existing state and regional economic development activities.

Letters of intent (LOI) for implementation grants up to $500,000 and planning grants up to $50,000 under INSPIRE are due February 21, 2023.

The deadline for final applications is March 17, 2023.

Review the Grant Opportunity at: ARC

For more information, contact Lisa Davis, Director, Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, at lad3@psu.edu or 814-863-8214