Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-05), Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives, announced today the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will award $952,754 to Volunteers of America Mid-States to expand their substance abuse treatment programming in Manchester, Kentucky.
Senator McConnell and Congressman Rogers helped secure this grant by supporting ARC funding as senior members of the Appropriations Committees in the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively. Senator McConnell also wrote a letter to ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Conelly Manchin in support of Volunteers of America Mid-States’ grant application.
Volunteers of America Mid-States will use these funds to renovate a space in downtown Manchester, Kentucky, and partner with a health clinic to provide services to Kentuckians recovering from drug addiction. The nationwide organization provides hundreds of human service programs, including substance abuse treatment, housing, and healthcare, to 1.5 million Americans in 400 communities across the country. They have established a number of addiction treatment initiatives in Southeastern Kentucky focused on community care.
“Volunteers of America Mid-States provides vital services to Kentuckians throughout the Commonwealth and is well-equipped to expand its addiction treatment services in Southeastern Kentucky. I’ve seen the life-changing impact of their work firsthand and was glad to work with Jennifer Hancock to support their federal grant application as they seek to broaden their programming. ARC funding is critical for organizations like Volunteers of America Mid-States that help at-risk Kentuckians, so I’m proud to partner with my friend Congressman Rogers to support robust ARC funding during the appropriations process,” said Senator McConnell.
“We are diligently working to revitalize downtown Manchester and this multipurpose building will help target some of the healthcare and recovery needs in the community. Local residents have rallied together to rehabilitate several buildings, making Main Street a beautiful place to be,” said Congressman Rogers. “Earlier this year, I was proud to secure $2.2 million in Community Project Funding for the Manchester Market Place, which will be a part of the exciting new developments in Manchester. Senator McConnell and I continue to support the Appalachian Regional Commission, because of the incredible grant support that is available for our rural communities.”
“VOA is so grateful to the Appalachian Regional Commission for this generous and life-changing support. This grant will mean real progress for downtown Manchester and the surrounding area and we cannot wait to begin work with our amazing community partners on this project. Leader McConnell and Congressman Rogers’s commitment to this project and to the region will mean progress on the issues that matter most to all of us, from affordable housing to combatting substance use disorder to growth and economic development for Southeastern Kentucky,” said Jennifer Hancock, President and CEO of Volunteers of America Mid-States.