Goodwill Industries lands $750,000 grant from DOJ
by October 4, 2022 12:01 pm 832 views
Goodwill Industries of Arkansas has been awarded a Second Chance Act Community-based Reentry Program grant by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs and Bureau of Justice Assistance to support the non-profit’s expanding Reentry Services program.
The grant will specifically aid in funding Goodwill’s Transitional Employment Opportunity program and will total $749,973 over the three-year term.
Formerly incarcerated individuals face numerous barriers upon reentry to their communities. Goodwill instituted a reentry program in 2009 to provide job and life skills training to men and women reentering the community after incarceration.
Reentry staff supports clients to reduce recidivism and promote public safety through job readiness training, job leads, job search and resume assistance, interview preparation, mock interviews and job retention.
“This grant will not only impact the individuals who receive our TEO program services, it will also produce a ripple effect on their families, local communities, Arkansas’ workforce and economy that is nearly impossible to measure,” said Goodwill Industries of Arkansas President and CEO Brian Marsh. “Transforming lives is an effort that takes collaboration among a number of stakeholders, including our local and state governments, and other non-profits that place a priority on education, training and employment.”
Goodwill was one of 22 organizations across the U.S. to be awarded the grant and the only one in Arkansas.
Goodwill’s Transitional Employment Opportunity program is expanding service to 20 communities across the state. This grant will help serve an estimated 900 clients and reduce recidivism. The recidivism rate of Goodwill’s program maintains at less than 6%, compared to the Arkansas average of 46.1% of those who will return to prison after being released.
This grant will also help provide Goodwill clients scholarships to The Academy at Goodwill where they can receive training and certifications in welding, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and carpentry.