FIRST Center Awarded $100,000 from ARC INSPIRE Initiative to Expand Recovery-to-Work Supports

Huntingdon, PA – September 23, 2025

The Families Involved in Recovery, Support, and Transformation (FIRST) Center is proud to announce that it has been awarded $100,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) INSPIRE Initiative. This funding will support the Community Access to Recovery Employment Supports (CARES) Project, expanding recovery-to-work opportunities across Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, Bedford, and Fulton counties.

The FIRST Center has long been a flame of hope for so many people in recovery, offering family support, workforce readiness resources, and recovery-friendly community programs. With this new investment, the Center will strengthen pathways to employment and wellness, ensuring that individuals in recovery have the tools, training, and support they need to thrive.

“We are honored to receive this funding from ARC,” said Karen Rush, Director of the FIRST Center. “This award allows us to expand vital recovery and employment resources in rural communities. Our goal is to continue being a beacon of hope—helping individuals in recovery rebuild their lives, support their families, and contribute to stronger, healthier communities.”

Recovery services are vital to the health and stability of Central Pennsylvania. By empowering individuals in recovery, the FIRST Center helps build stronger families, safer communities, and a more resilient local economy.

About the ARC INSPIRE Initiative

The Appalachian Regional Commission’s Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative addresses the substance use disorder crisis by creating recovery-to-work pipelines. Since 2021, INSPIRE has invested more than $65 million in projects across 13 Appalachian states, preparing over 18,000 individuals for new job opportunities.

About the FIRST Center

The FIRST Center, based in Huntingdon, PA, is a Recovery Community Organization dedicated to supporting families of those recovering from visible and invisible disabilities. The Center sponsors the Rural Recovery Alliance, a coalition of organizations, providers, families, and allies across five counties. Together, they share the message that recovery is possible, better together, and it works.