Clark County's announcement said the county has been approved for a $51,600 grant from the OneOhio Recovery Foundation. A grant agreement still needs to be finalized before the money is put to use.
The award is intended for the Clark County Department of Reentry's OneOhio Digital Recovery and Workforce Access Lab. The lab would assist people leaving incarceration or working toward recovery, according to the announcement. Reentry Director Dr. Brooke Wagner said computer access and digital skills are necessities, and that limited access can create barriers in employment, education, housing and essential services. She said the project would provide tools, training and support.
The county's grant is one of the awards in a $45.7 million regional funding opportunity. The foundation said this is its second round of regional grants. According to the announcement, the money comes from 55 percent of what Ohio receives from pharmaceutical companies tied to the opioid epidemic. Alisha Nelson, the foundation's executive director, said the grants are intended to support local prevention, treatment and recovery efforts.
The announcement said grant recipients are chosen through a locally driven review that favors evidence-informed strategies. It also said the foundation's inaugural grant cycle awarded more than $45 million across over 240 projects.