Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems Initiative (INSPIRE)

Link

https://www.arc.gov/grants-and-opportunities/sud/inspire-initiative-application-information/

Deadline

Letter of Intent (Required): Feb 14, 2025
Application Deadline: Mar 10, 2025

Sponsor

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)

Purpose

Offers funding for projects that create or expand support services for individuals living in Appalachia who are in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) to obtain or sustain employment. Supports the development of recovery ecosystems comprised of recovery communities, peer support, healthcare, human services, law enforcement, and other community stakeholders to help individuals enter or re-enter the workforce during the transition from SUD treatment into sustainable recovery.

Required INSPIRE program priorities include:

Specialized job training and skill building programs that provide skills development, education, and support to help individuals in recovery acquire meaningful employment
Prevention strategies, programs, and practices aimed at reducing the initiation, misuse, and progression of substance use and minimizing the risk of developing SUD
Workforce partnerships to create and enhance collaborations among stakeholders to support individuals in recovery by addressing workforce challenges and fostering sustainable employment opportunities
Research, evaluation, and innovation to collect, analyze, and apply information to improve understanding, assess outcomes, and develop new approaches to address SUD effectively
Employer support and recovery-ready workplace frameworks designed to address SUD and foster environments where employees can seek help, recover, and thrive
Local, state, and regional partnerships to leverage resources, expertise, and community engagement to create a comprehensive, multi-layered approach to tackling Appalachia's SUD crisis
Stigma reduction strategies and actions aimed at diminishing the negative attitudes, stereotypes, and discrimination faced by individuals with SUD
Wraparound services to provide a holistic, coordinated approach to care that addresses the multiple and interconnected needs of individuals struggling with SUD

Grants are offered under 2 funding categories:

Implementation Grants for projects with existing partnerships that support a recovery ecosystem in order to launch, expand, or replicate evidence-based programs that help Appalachians who are in recovery from SUD to enter or reenter the workforce. Funds can be requested for minor construction incidental to the project.
Planning Grants support the development of plans and strategies to build or expand a recovery ecosystem that will be implemented in the near future or after the grant ends. Funds may not be used for the delivery of programs or services.

Funding for treatment services under this opportunity is limited to behavioral health services—including post-SUD treatment wraparound services—to help those in recovery maintain their recovery as they enter or reenter the workforce.

Amount of Funding

Award ceiling:

$500,000 for implementation grants
$100,000 planning grants

Project period

Up to 3 years for implementation grants
Up to 18 months for planning grants

Applicants must provide matching funds from non-federal, other federal, or a combination of sources for the project. ARC maximum contributions are determined by ARC's classification of the county or counties served by the proposed project. Applicants may request up to 80% of the total project costs when the county served by a project is designated as economically distressed based on ARC's fiscal year (FY) 2025 County Economic Status in Appalachia classifications.

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include:

Local development districts
Indian tribes or a consortium of Indian tribes
States, counties, cities, or other political subdivisions of a state, including a special purpose unit of a state of local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions
Institutions of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education
Public or private nonprofit organizations or associations

Applicants with concurrent funding under Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities (WORC), Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER), or INSPIRE for SUD-specific projects are not eligible for this opportunity.

Geographic Coverage

Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia

What This Program Funds

Capacity Building • New Program • Operating Costs and Staffing

Application Process

Application instructions, requirements, and other information about the application process are available in the program guidance.

Applicants must submit a letter of intent (LOI) by February 14, 2025. After the LOI submission is confirmed, applicants should proceed with submitting a final application, unless they are contacted by ARC regarding issues with the LOI proposal. The deadline for final applications is March 10, 2025.

Prior to submitting the final application, every applicant is required to contact the ARC state program managers of the state(s) impacted by the project proposal to ensure the proposal aligns with Appalachian economic development priorities for each state served by the project.

Applications must be submitted online through the INSPIRE application portal.

Applicant webinar
February 4, 2025
11:00 a.m. Eastern

Contact

For questions about the INSPIRE Initiative or use of agency funds to support projects:
Contact the state program manager
SUD@arc.gov

Rural Awards

Past awards communities received in FY 2024 can be found on the program website.

Rural communities who have received funding include:

Kentucky River District Health Department in Whitesburg, Kentucky used funding for the HUB-Letcher County (HUB-LC) project, which will provide job training or apprenticeship programs for individuals coming out of substance use disorder treatment in rural Appalachian Kentucky. The project will involve at least 29 local businesses and recruit 800 participants into the program.
Fulton County Family Partnership (FCFP) in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania was awarded funds to add staff positions focusing on workforce re-entry for individuals who are in recovery and/or are justice-involved. The program will provide case management and community navigation services to an estimated 50 trainees and support up to 15 business in developing recovery-friendly workplace practices.
Williamson Health & Wellness Center in Williamson, West Virginia received a grant to engage local stakeholders in an assessment of unmet needs across the recovery ecosystem. The projects will invest in healthcare networks and partnerships to support recovery practices, launch supportive recovery- focused job training programs, and coordinate recovery services and employment training for up to 75 trainees and 10 local businesses.

Topics This Program Addresses

Community Planning and Coalition Building • Housing and Homelessness • People with Lived Experience/Peers • Prevention • Social Service Supports • Substance Use Disorder • Transportation • Treatment • Vocational Training, Education, and Employment