NJ Offers $3.9 Million for Opioid Recovery Employment Program

A new grant available from New Jersey’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development is looking to increase economic recovery from the opioid epidemic across the state.

The Pathways to Recovery Initiative will provide Atlantic, Camden, Essex, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties each $650,000, for a total of $3.9 million, with the goal of providing training opportunities, supportive services and employment for individuals who have been impacted by the opioid epidemic.

Individuals served are those who have a personal history with opioid abuse, or have friends or family members with a history of abuse.

Goals of Pathways to Recovery

This competitive grant is being made available to accomplish the following goals:

• Create partnerships in the community that will help facilitate economic growth overcoming the employment effects of the opioid crisis
• Provide necessary career training, and extend services to dislocated workers (including homemakers), temporarily or permanently laid-off individuals due to the opioid crisis, long-term unemployed individuals and self-employed who are unemployed or underemployed as a result of the opioid crisis
• Provide employment and training activities for the targeted population to increase unsubsidized employment opportunities and retention as a result of grant-supported activities.

Non-profit or for-profit entity or governmental entity may apply, with special consideration given to grantees that collaborate with educational institutions, faith- based and community-based organizations.

Priority will be given to applicants whose career goals align them with helping to combat the opioid crisis, such as working with addiction treatment centers and mental health counselors.

Applications for the Pathways to Recovery initiative are due by March 6.

Completed and signed applications should be sent to Pathways2Recovery@dol.nj.gov.