The Appalachian Regional Commission recently awarded $9.2 million in ARISE funds to the Fletcher Group, Inc. to launch Connect Appalachia, a regional workforce and recovery initiative that will support individuals in recovery from substance use disorder across six Appalachian states. The East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health and Research (CRHR) will serve as the project evaluator.
Connect Appalachia will provide job readiness training and job placement services to 1,500 participants in recovery across Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The project will also serve 2,500 businesses and offer training and technical assistance to 252 communities throughout the region.
The initiative will implement the Recovery-Ready Workplaces (RRW) training and education
model, developed during a prior ARISE planning project. The model is designed to strengthen
local recovery ecosystems, reduce workforce gaps and expand economic opportunity in
Appalachian communities.
The Fletcher Group, Inc. is leading implementation in collaboration with nine partners,
including CRHR. Together, the partners are contributing more than $4.1 million in
matching funds to support the project’s reach and long-term impact.
CRHR will collaborate with the Fletcher Group, Inc. to evaluate the implementation
and potential impacts of the initiative across participating states. The center’s
role will help ensure project outcomes are documented and can used to inform future
rural workforce and recovery initiatives.
“Efforts to address substance use disorder and improve economic opportunity are too
often siloed, discouraging the exchange and adoption of effective practices,” said
Dr. Ernie Fletcher, co-founder and chief medical officer of the Fletcher Group, Inc.
“The Connect Appalachia project will bring together experienced organizations in the
six-state service area to help Appalachian employers address workforce needs and individuals
maintain recovery and obtain employment. The Fletcher Group is proud to partner with
these organizations to strengthen recovery pathways and expand economic opportunity.”