LEXINGTON, Ky. — Bluegrass Community and Technical College has received a $427,622 grant from the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission to expand its Recovery-to-Work Program, which aims to help Kentuckians in opioid recovery pursue meaningful careers.

The two-year award will be distributed across BCTC's eight central Kentucky campuses to remove financial barriers and create pathways for individuals in recovery to gain workforce training and billable peer support credentials, according to the college.

"By removing financial barriers and connecting recovery to meaningful career pathways, this program empowers individuals to rebuild their lives while strengthening Kentucky's workforce," said Greg Feeney, president and CEO of BCTC.

The Recovery-to-Work Program fully funds workforce training in high-demand fields while allowing participants to earn peer support credentials that enable them to bill Medicaid for services through eligible agencies. By integrating technical education with peer specialist credentialing, the program addresses both employment and sustained recovery, officials said.

The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission was established in 2022 by the General Assembly to distribute the state's share of more than $900 million in settlement funds from lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors. KYOAAC has awarded 189 grants to 130 organizations across Kentucky as of this award.

"This investment from the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission is transformative for the individuals and communities we serve," Feeney said in a statement.

The grant continues BCTC's commitment to supporting student success and addressing the opioid crisis affecting central Kentucky, the college said.