# Reentry Employment Opportunities (17.270)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/programs/17-270-reentry-employment-opportunities/  
Publisher: Well Told Grants. Data: USAspending.gov and Grants.gov, updated November 7, 2026.

Reentry Employment Opportunities is run by Department of Labor. From fiscal 2021 to 2025 it awarded $578 million in 196 grants, about $3.0 million per award.

## Objectives

The Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO) program encompasses two distinct grant categories: adult reentry grants and youth/young adult-focused grants. Adult reentry grants are designed to enhance workforce reintegration for individuals returning from incarceration by increasing employment opportunities, improving job retention, and raising earnings, while simultaneously reducing recidivism rates. Youth-focused grants address the needs of young individuals involved in or at risk of involvement in crime and violence. The objectives include preventing school dropout among in-school youth, improving literacy and numeracy skills, increasing employment rates for out-of-school youth, and mitigating both criminal activity and recidivism among youth populations. Collectively, the REO program seeks to facilitate successful community reintegration for justice-involved individuals through the development of evidence-based strategies and collaborative partnerships that promote sustainable workforce outcomes.

## Funding by fiscal year

| Year | Amount | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $85.2 million | 37 |
| 2022 | $140 million | 45 |
| 2023 | $151 million | 49 |
| 2024 | $100 million | 32 |
| 2025 | $102 million | 33 |

## Largest recipients

| Recipient | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Goodwill Industries International, Inc. | Maryland | $17.5 million |
| Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America, Inc. | Pennsylvania | $16.5 million |
| State of Kansas Department of Commerce | Kansas | $13.1 million |
| National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation | District of Columbia | $13.1 million |
| Midwest Urban Strategies Inc | Wisconsin | $13.1 million |
| National Urban League, Inc. | New York | $12.9 million |
| Strive International, Inc. | New York | $12.6 million |
| State of Washington Employment Security Department | Washington | $12.5 million |
| MN Department of Employment & Economic Development | Minnesota | $12.4 million |
| Pathstone Corporation | New York | $11.5 million |
| Department of Labor & Industry PA | Pennsylvania | $11.5 million |
| North Carolina Department of Commerce | North Carolina | $10.8 million |
| Workforce Inc | Indiana | $10.5 million |
| Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity | Michigan | $10.2 million |
| Illinois Department Commerce & Economic Opportunity | Illinois | $10.0 million |
| California Workforce Development Board | California | $9.3 million |
| Jobs for the Future, Inc | Massachusetts | $9.1 million |
| Family Health International | North Carolina | $9.1 million |
| The Latino Coalition for Community Leadership | California | $8.8 million |
| Mississippi Department of Employment Security | Mississippi | $8.3 million |