Goodwill Receives $500,000 ARC Grant to Launch Recovery-to-Work Program

Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries, Inc. has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to launch A Good Start: Recovery to Work Job Readiness Program. This funding provides Goodwill with the ability to expand this program to reach more individuals in need. A Good Start provides critical job readiness and industry-specific workforce training to individuals in recovery from substance use disorder across Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull counties. 

The program takes a three-phase approach, offering general job readiness skills, specialized workforce training, and direct connections to employers committed to hiring individuals in recovery. Goodwill is partnering with local recovery organizations, employers, and training providers to ensure participants receive both the skills and the support needed to succeed.

Through this project, Goodwill anticipates serving 168 workers and trainees by helping them secure employment or advance into further training. In addition, 10 local businesses are expected to benefit from hiring program participants, gaining reliable employees while strengthening the regional workforce. 

“We are grateful for this opportunity to expand our mission in a way that addresses one of our community’s greatest needs,” said Goodwill CEO Shelley Murray. “By taking a holistic approach that combines recovery support with workforce development, we are equipping individuals in recovery with tools and opportunities to achieve long-term success for themselves and their families.” 

The funding comes as part of ARC’s Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative, which awarded $11 million to 32 projects in nine Appalachian states this year. INSPIRE projects are designed to address workforce gaps caused by substance use disorder and to strengthen local economies by supporting recovery-to-work programs. 

“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 in a statement. “I am so proud of the way ARC’s INSPIRE initiative empowers Appalachians in recovery to gain the training, resources, and support they need to succeed.”

Since launching in 2021, ARC’s INSPIRE Initiative has invested more than $65 million in over 200 projects across 13 Appalachian states. These projects are

projected to prepare more than 18,000 individuals for new job opportunities.