The Workforce Opportunities for Communities in Recovery Act creates a new federal grant program to help communities dealing with substance use disorder develop job training and employment services. State and local workforce boards can apply for competitive two-year grants to partner with treatment providers, employers, education institutions, and community organizations to serve workers affected by the opioid and substance use crisis. These grants will fund job training, career counseling, supportive services like transportation and childcare, and connections to treatment and recovery programs, while also helping employers hire and retain workers in recovery. The bill authorizes $25 million for fiscal year 2025, increasing to $37.5 million by 2030, with an independent evaluation required to measure the program's effectiveness. The legislation aims to address both the economic downturn in communities hit hardest by substance use disorder and the shortage of workers in treatment-related fields like mental health care and emergency services.
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