Mecklenburg County Awards $128K to Job Training Center for Residents in Recovery

Mecklenburg County granted the National Center on Institutions and Alternatives roughly $128,000 in opioid settlement funding. The cash will boost workforce training for residents who qualify for tuition-free programs and help.

Christine Poltawsky runs programs at NCIA VTC Charlotte. She said the dollars let the center assist more people who face obstacles to schooling and training. "Most of the people in the county that got the funds – it's been a lot of treatment centers. So we're excited that we're able to target things from a different direction," said Poltawsky, according to Spectrum Local News.

The nonprofit provides free, hands-on training in HVAC-R installation and service, automotive repair, and commercial driving. NCIA VTC Charlotte has prepared over 900 people for careers since opening in 2020.

Research from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows work matters for long-term recovery among people overcoming substance use disorders. Getting and keeping jobs helps create structure, income, and self-worth, which connect to better recovery results.

The center assists residents identified as low-income, those who are justice-involved, transitioning back into the community and people unhoused or in recovery. "What we're really looking to do is reach anybody that does not have access to education and training," said Poltawsky.

In 2023, VTC Charlotte partnered with Charlotte Rescue Mission. That organization offers residential recovery programs at no cost for individuals facing both homelessness and addiction. The mission links residents to career training and support at the vocational center.

Since 2023, over 50 rescue mission participants have enrolled in training programs, thanks to support from the opioid settlement funds. Many graduates now hold full-time jobs.

Kasey Lester was referred through the rescue mission and finished the HVAC program. "I wasn't aware of the opportunities that were up to grab, the things I could pursue, do for myself to get me out my regular routine of life," Lester said. "Through the Charlotte Rescue Mission, it has opened many doors."

Walter Boseman enrolled in the HVAC-R program after being referred through the mission. "I have an associate degree in it already, but I got in an accident years ago which led me out of the workforce," Boseman said. "I'm going back to what I know to get me up to par with new systems being used."

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services estimates over 1.4 million adults struggle with substance use disorders. From 2000 to 2022, NCDHHS reports over 36,000 North Carolinians died from drug overdoses.