Opportunity Overview
The Mississippi Office of Workforce Development (AccelerateMS) is soliciting applications for regional Recovery-to-Work Initiative Pilot Programs funded through the Mississippi Opioid Settlement Fund. Projects must connect individuals in recovery from substance use disorder to sustainable employment in Mississippi priority occupations through an integrated model of workforce development, recovery services, employer engagement and supportive services.
Funding
Approximately $1,000,000 is available. This is a reimbursement-based grant: allowable costs must first be incurred and paid, documented, submitted for reimbursement and approved by AccelerateMS. The RFA does not state an individual award ceiling or a mandatory match requirement.
Who Can Apply
Eligible applicants include Mississippi community colleges, workforce development boards, nonprofit organizations, recovery housing providers, drug intervention court-affiliated organizations, local governmental entities, and other qualified organizations with demonstrated experience serving people in recovery and implementing workforce development programs.
Required Partnership Structure
Each application must include at minimum one licensed substance use disorder treatment provider, one workforce education or occupational training provider, two employer partners committed to hiring participants, at least one drug court, and a recovery housing organization when one is available in the proposed service area. Each required partner must provide a signed Letter of Commitment.
Allowable Costs and Program Controls
Allowable costs include directly supporting personnel, training, occupational skills training, credentialing, workforce navigation, career coaching, employer engagement, participant assessment, case management, necessary travel, data collection/reporting and program evaluation. Program management and administrative oversight may not exceed 20% of the approved project budget. The RFA bars unrelated operating costs, vehicle purchases, Medicaid- or third-party-reimbursable treatment services, recovery-housing operating costs, lobbying, entertainment, alcohol, costs unrelated to opioid abatement and duplicative federally funded workforce services.
Application and Deadline
Applications must be submitted through the RFA’s online Smartsheet application portal. Proposals/questions are directed to AccelerateMS, with questions to jwillis@acceleratems.org. Applications are reviewed in the order received and may be funded on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. The stated deadline is September 28, 2026 at 5:00 PM CST.
Important RFA Timing Discrepancy
The RFA states a funding period of October 1-October 31, 2026 near the beginning, while the later Contract Period section states the executed subaward will run through June 30, 2027. Applicants should obtain written clarification from AccelerateMS before relying on the one-month funding-period statement.
Atlas Analysis
N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. The grant is centered on recovery-to-employment services, training, case management and employer engagement; the RFA does not create a legitimate remote-exam-device pathway, so Atlas should not force N9+ into the project. QC Healthcare / other Dr. Miltie capability fit: low (about 20/100) absent a clearly documented role in workforce training, data/reporting or program evaluation that directly serves the funded recovery-to-work model. The opportunity itself is highly relevant to Mississippi behavioral-health, reentry and workforce organizations.
Source verification: AccelerateMS official Recovery-to-Work RFA. Atlas re-verified the controlling RFA on September 14, 2026.