On September 15 the Little Rock Workforce Development Board (LRWDB) and the City of Little Rock hosted a joint media event to announce the $4 million Pathway Home 6 Reentry Grant. The announcement was featured on all major TV stations, radio and was the top story in the Arkansas section of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on September 16, 2025.
The grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, will support reentry services for 400 individuals who are about to be released from custody and who have plans to reside in Little Rock or surrounding areas.
Track Record of Success
The LRWDB has operated a successful reentry program, Rock City Reentry Project, over the past nine years, serving over 662 participants. The Pathway Home 6 grant will build the capacity of the Reentry Team to expand services to the most vulnerable through early intervention and enhance the City’s comprehensive efforts to reduce crime and curb recidivism.
As Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. said during the announcement, “Reentry programs are an essential tool in our crime reduction strategy, because quality pre- and post-incarceration services help residents rebuild their lives and turn away from crime. “There are hundreds of successful Little Rock residents with new careers and changed lives because of the hard work of the Little Rock Workforce Development Board through Rock City Reentry.”
Job Training and Case Management
Pathway Home 6 provides training in four target sectors – Construction, Advanced Manufacturing, Transportation and Hospitality – to create direct pathways to job opportunities. Case Managers perform an initial assessment and meet at least monthly to help participants achieve goals and address barriers.
As W.J. Monagle, Executive Director of the Little Rock Workforce Development Board stated, “Our targeted resources and services utilize peer specialists and mentors that demonstrate the strategies necessary to overcome obstacles and challenges. We are excited about the opportunities this new funding provides to strengthen services and support our community.”
Community Partners
The LRWDB has received commitments from over 50 Central Arkansas partner organizations, which will significantly enhance the project by pooling resources for employment, training, work experience, housing, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, adult education, family support, and legal assistance.
Photo Courtesy of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Watch the news conference to announce the grant.