Follow-Up: West Virginia: Governor Morrisey Announces Nearly $1.5 Million to Help West Virginians in Recovery Return to Work
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced in Charleston on October 28 nearly $1.5 million for four initiatives designed to help West Virginians recovering from substance use disorders improve health outcomes, overcome employment barriers and return to work, connecting people in recovery with healthcare services, workforce training, transportation assistance and employment opportunities.
The $1,486,500 in awards includes $1,236,500 through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and $250,000 through West Virginia's Rural Health Transformation Program. The United Way of Harrison and Doddridge Counties received $500,000 for RecoveryWorks Appalachia, which will serve 100 individuals with substance use disorders and other barriers to employment through recovery support, housing assistance, job training and paid work experience, with a target of helping 70 to 75 participants enter employment or advanced training. The Mountain State Educational Services Cooperative received $499,500 for its DRIVE initiative, which will help people in recovery overcome transportation barriers through vehicle repair assistance, expanded vehicle donation services, CDL training and workforce support, serving approximately 220 workers and trainees across all 55 counties with partners including Mountain State Jobs & Hope, the West Virginia Military Authority, Good News Mountaineer Garage and WorkForce West Virginia. The Williamson Health and Wellness Center received $250,000 in Rural Health Transformation Program funding to expand its New Heights recovery-to-work program in Mingo County with mobile peer recovery coaches, job training, transportation assistance and local employer partnerships. The West Virginia Ministry of Advocacy and Workcamps received $237,000 for its SERVE initiative, providing workforce readiness training, industry-recognized certifications and hands-on construction experience for approximately 45 individuals in recovery across Nicholas, Fayette, Kanawha, Mason, Raleigh and Webster counties, connecting participants with employment and apprenticeships through home repair and community development projects.
"West Virginia has fought a long and difficult battle against substance abuse, and we cannot afford to lose another generation to addiction," Morrisey said. "Recovery means giving people the opportunity to rebuild their lives. When we help someone get healthier, develop new skills, and find meaningful employment, we're strengthening families and giving more West Virginians a chance to build a better future." He added: "We're seeing tremendous economic opportunities across West Virginia, and we need more people ready and able to fill those jobs. Better health leads to greater workforce participation, and greater workforce participation strengthens our economy."
The Governor's Office said the investments complement the Mountain State Jobs & Hope initiative. Since October 2025, West Virginia has announced approximately $96 billion in private-sector investment representing more than 19,000 projected jobs, and the state's tourism industry generates $9.4 billion in economic impact, welcomes approximately 80 million visitors and supports more than 61,000 jobs. The announcement noted funding support from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $199,476,098.72, 100 percent funded by CMS.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 焊接技能培训（资料图）。美国国防部公共领域照片，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Welding skills training (file photo). U.S. Department of Defense public domain photo, via Wikimedia Commons.
- 2026-10-15West Virginia Announces More Than $1.7 Million to Help People in Recovery Return to Work
- 2026-10-29Follow-Up: West Virginia: Governor Morrisey Announces Nearly $1.5 Million to Help West Virginians in Recovery Return to WorkThis story
