Russell County supervisors voted on Jan. 5 to provide a letter of support and a $25,000 local match from opioid settlement funds for a regional workforce program that helps people in recovery reenter employment.

Rachel Patton, executive director of the Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board, described ROPES (Re‑engagement Opportunities and Pathways to Employment Success). She said the program has served about 300 participants regionally since 2019 and, with current grants, has enrolled 175 regionwide and 34 participants in Russell County. Patton asked for localities to match 20 percent and a $25,000 contribution from each locality; the regional application would ask roughly $800,000 from the opioid abatement authority and will be prorated for the grant start date.

Patton highlighted the program’s Cars to Work element, which helps participants get reliable transportation by purchasing vehicles and structuring repayments; she said the program has a better than 90% success rate for participants who remain employed and fulfill payment obligations. Board members asked about long‑term sustainability; Patton said the current federal grant ends next September and the region will evaluate need then.

The board motion to provide the support letter and the $25,000 match passed; one member abstained because of a conflict. County staff confirmed the local opioid account has restricted funds for these programs and that the match would be permissible. The board noted the proposal will be revised to remove gas cards from the budget where those are ineligible under opioid abatement rules.