MONROE — The Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (SWWDB) received a $642,124 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to operate a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) initiative: Support to Communities, Fostering Opioid Recovery through Workforce Development. The program is funded 100% through the Department of Labor and is available through August, 2024.

The purpose of the Support to Communities grant is to provide local Workforce Development Boards funding to foster opioid and substance abuse recovery through workforce development. Through the creation of local coalitions, participating boards may serve: 1. Individuals impacted by substance abuse and/or 2. Individuals pursuing a career in addiction treatment and recovery. 

The coalition may include the following types of partners: education and training providers, employers, treatment and recovery providers, local health departments, law enforcement, legal services, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, etc.

 “The Support to Communities grant provides an opportunity for DWD and local workforce development boards to work with a wide variety of local partners to assist in opioid and substance abuse recovery,” DWD Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek said. “The partnerships will serve not only those looking for training and career services in the community but also expand the population of healthcare workers in Wisconsin readied to aid in opioid recovery.”

The Support to Communities project will address the health and economic impacts of widespread substance and opioid misuse, addiction and overdose by providing financial resources for training and education, support services, and recovery services to individuals in the community who have been impacted by substance abuse.

For more information, contact Project Coordinator Marcia Galvan at (608) 921-0251.