Batavia, OH -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued a Trade and Economic Transition Dislocated Worker Grant to the state of Ohio.

The state will send $8 million to 16 Ohio counties to help battle the opioid epidemic to address workforce issues.

  • Four region-16 county areas will receive $1.8 million
  • Preble, Montgomery, Clark, Fayette, Clinton, Butler, Hamilton, Clermont, Adams, Ross, Pike, Scioto, Lawrence, Trumbull, Mahoning Counties
  • Grant could provide workforce training and develop second-chance polices for employers

Clermont County officials have recently started meeting to decide how to use their portion of funds.

One option is to boost the county's ASPIRE program which helps people recovering from addiction get back into the workforce. The program has assisted hundreds of county residents since 2015.

But the grant could also be used to help minimize risk to employers who hire individuals recovering from substance abuse addictions.

“Employers having more information about where people can get services is important,” said Joyce Weddle, Director of Employment Services for Greater Cincinnati Behavior Health Services in Clermont County.

Weddle said employers often don't know what to do when they discover an employee had an addiction.

“If the employer was able to refer people for treatment, it [the grant] can also help cover the cost of treatment,” Weddle told Spectrum News 1.

Weddle and other county officials want employers who are also willing to give people a second chance.

“It's just general education to businesses,” said Karen Scherra, Executive Director of the Clermont County Health and Recovery Board  “ If they have an employee who identifies as having an addiction or family members with an addiction that is affecting their work, they can realize that this whole treatment system exists in the county. And there is a place to reach out or refer their employees so they don't lose employees. We can work with them so people can stay in their jobs. So I think this has a lot of possibilities in many areas.”

Weddle and Scherra both agree the grant can help a lot of the county's efforts to fight the opioid crisis. They believe recovery includes helping people all the way through the process and continuing to provide support even once they kick the habit.

“If someone is going to fully recover from an addiction they have to get their life back,” Scherra said. “They have to see hope at the end. Obviously getting employment, getting a job, getting a career is essential to that.”

County officials began meeting this week to discuss options with the grant. The Chamber of Commerce and several businesses have shown an interest in the grant that could help employers minimize risk and also find quality, skilled workers.