Local organizations receive $500,000 awards from ARC

Horizon Health in Corbin and the KCEOC Community Action Partnership Inc. in Gray will each receive $500,000 as part of a $1,560,976 award from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).

According to a press release from the Governor’s Office, the award was made in partnership with Gov. Andy Beshear, and it awarded $1,560,976 to five projects through INvestments Supporting Partnerships In Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE), an ARC initiative addressing Appalachia’s addiction crisis through projects that create or expand a recovery ecosystem leading to workforce entry or re-entry.

“It’s clear that addiction and recovery issues require an all-hands-on-deck approach, and ARC INSPIRE has been and remains a crucial partner in our fight to help our people and communities,” said Beshear in the release.

INSPIRE awardees will support the substance use disorder recovery-to-employment continuum in seven Appalachian states by training and certifying recovery specialists, establishing cross-sector community recovery partnerships, expanding peer recovery support networks, launching recovery-to-work programs with a full spectrum of coordinated support services and more.

Since INSPIRE was established in April 2021, ARC has invested $14.9 million in 47 projects. To continue supporting Appalachia’s recovery ecosystems, ARC will issue a request for proposals for a third round of INSPIRE awards in the coming weeks. Additional information and resources are available at arc.gov/SUD.