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Regional workforce group seeks $25,000 Lee County opioid-abatement match for ROADS program and Cars-to-Work initiative
Summary
A Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board representative asked Lee County for a $25,000 opioid-abatement match to continue a regional ROADS recovery-to-work program (including a Cars-to-Work match) after a federal grant ends; Dickinson County will serve as fiscal agent, and the board authorized an application.
A representative of the Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board described the ROADS program to the Lee County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 16 and requested that Lee County contribute $25,000 from opioid-abatement funds to secure regional grant match dollars.
The presenter said ROADS serves people in substance-use recovery who are seeking to return to work, offering peer case managers, short-term training (CDL, heavy equipment, peer recovery specialist), internship placements, tuition/books, and targeted supports such as first-month rent and vehicle purchase assistance for employment. "Our Cars to Work program has over a 90 percent success rate," the presenter said, describing a model that purchases vehicles (up to $6,000), requires a $100 down payment and $100 monthly payments that begin after the participant's first paycheck, and ties vehicle retention to continued sobriety and employment.
The presenter said the region is pursuing opioid-abatement funding and asked that each locality served contribute $25,000 to support a regional grant application; Dickinson County agreed to act as the fiscal agent. The presenter named partner organizations providing referrals and support, including Higher Ground Women's Recovery Center and Recovery Through Christ Ministries, and noted commitments from several counties in the region.
Board members discussed the county's available opioid funds and other funding "buckets" (direct and indirect funds) and asked staff to track committed amounts. A motion was made and approved to allow staff (identified in the record as Miss Patton) to apply for the matching funds on behalf of the county.
Next steps: staff will prepare the county's portion of the application, coordinate with the regional fiscal agent, and return with final application materials and any required local match commitments for formal appropriation.
