To ensure the successful reintegration into society of the 5,000 Greater Clevelanders who are released from Ohio’s prisons each year and reduce recidivism rates in the metropolitan area, the Cleveland Foundation collaborated with Cuyahoga County officials and the Centers for Families and Children on the development of an innovative pilot re-entry program called Transformation Enterprises.

With a $150,000 grant in 2011, the foundation joined with its partners in funding the creation of three small companies—a food preparation business, a home renovation business and a beauty salon—to employ individuals with felony convictions. Although the businesses are managed by nonprofit organizations, they are for-profit ventures whose revenues support job training for their employees.

Aware that 70 percent of all recidivism occurs within the first 12 months of re-entry, Transformation Enterprises facilitates immediate employment and also provides “soft-skills” training and job placement assistance to enable employees to find nonsubsidized work. More than half of the 32 employees who have “graduated” from the renovation business begun in 2012 by Career Development and Placement Services have secured full-time jobs elsewhere.