Goodwill Industries of Kentucky awarded grant funding to establish, support reentry services in Pike
LOUISVILLE, KY. – Goodwill Industries of Kentucky has been awarded $123,923 in Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funding from the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to establish and support reentry services in Pike County.
The grant will serve 50 Pike County inmates at the Pike County Detention Center from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, with the chief objective to reduce recidivism in the community through coordinated reentry planning, barrier removal, job training and sustained employment.
Grant funding will support pre- and post-release programming for participants, which includes legal counseling provided by AppalReD and mental, behavioral and trauma-informed counseling provided by Mountain Comprehensive Care. The funding will also support operating costs, staff salaries and travel. Certain programming will be incentivized.
“We’re excited that this grant will allow Goodwill to connect with people soon to be released from the Pike County Detention Center, because we know how challenging it is for people leaving incarceration to rebuild their lives,” said Goodwill Industries of Kentucky President and CEO Amy Luttrell. “Kentucky needs the talents of all her citizens, and we see many people who, with the right support, go on to become contributing members of their communities.”
The grant is part of the $2.1 million in funding announced today by Governor Andy Beshear to be used to curb the sale of illegal drugs and fight addiction. Fourteen statewide law enforcement agencies were granted funding in addition to Goodwill.
“These funds allow us to continue our support for crime victims while aiding law enforcement in their effort to create a better, safer Kentucky,” Gov. Beshear said in a release sent by his office. “By working together, we can take illegal drugs off the streets and ensure the services provided to affected Kentuckians are second to none.”
More information about programming will be communicated in a timely manner. For more information about Goodwill’s services to its Kentucky communities, visit GoodwillKY.org.
About Goodwill Industries of Kentucky
Goodwill Industries of Kentucky is a 100-year-old nonprofit organization that operates in 103 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. The organization is committed to using resources from its 67 retail stores to help build pathways out of poverty for individuals who need a hand up in life. In 2022, Goodwill helped place 2,368 Kentuckians into jobs with 877 of its employer partners and inside its own retail stores. Goodwill uses approximately 90 cents from every dollar generated in its retail stores to operate programs and services that help Kentucky’s hardest-to-serve job seekers build the life they desire.
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