Turn90 Builds Lasting Reentry Workforce Development in South Carolina
Through a $58,000 grant from the ATI Foundation, Turn90 expanded reentry workforce development in South Carolina by establishing forklift training capacity at its Charleston and Spartanburg reentry centers. Fifty-five (55) Turn90 participants completed forklift certification during the grant period, exceeding the project target of 50.
The grant did more than fund a single round of training. It equipped both locations with forklifts, safety infrastructure, curriculum, and trained staff so the program can continue serving future participants after the grant period has ended.
That last part is the point. When we fund workforce programs, we are looking for a capability the organization keeps, not a year of activity.
How Funding from the ATI Foundation Expanded Reentry Workforce Development in South Carolina
Funding from the ATI Foundation gave Turn90 the equipment and training structure needed to add forklift certification to its existing workforce program. A forklift was purchased for each center, with the Charleston unit delivered on October 29, 2025 and the Spartanburg unit delivered on November 3, 2025.
Both sites added forklift storage, eye wash stations, updated safety signage, and a Forklift Inspection Checklist for ongoing use. Turn90 also implemented the SAFE-Lift2 Counterbalance Training curriculum, which combines classroom instruction with hands-on forklift operation.
A certification program needs three things to exist: the machine, the safety system around it, and someone qualified to teach on it. This grant funded all three at once, which is why the capacity can continue beyond the grant period.
In this report, reentry workforce development means preparing people returning from incarceration with practical skills, workplace preparation, and employment pathways that can support long-term success. Turn90 integrated forklift training into a broader model that already included job readiness, case management, cognitive behavioral programming, and paid work experience.
Turn90 Built Training Capacity That Can Continue Beyond the Grant
Turn90 used a train-the-trainer model so forklift instruction would not depend only on outside trainers. Operations Managers completed Train-the-Trainer certification in November 2025, and four additional lead staff members were trained on the curriculum to support participant instruction at both centers.
The first formal cohort launched in November 2025 with 10 staff, leads, and trainees. By February 2026, 39 staff and trainees had completed forklift certification.
That approach matters because the equipment, curriculum, safety systems, and internal training knowledge remain in place. The ATI Foundation investment built capacity Turn90 can continue using with future cohorts.
Forklift Training Became Part of a Broader Workforce Model
Turn90 did not offer forklift training as a stand-alone class. Participants earned the credential while continuing the other parts of Turn90's workforce development program.
During the midpoint reporting window alone, Turn90 delivered:
553.5 hours of cognitive behavioral programming
674 individual case management sessions
18 hours of financial literacy instruction
Digital literacy training completed by 14 participants
Turn90 reported that technical training was most effective when paired with behavioral and workplace-readiness skills. The forklift credential gave participants a concrete skill while the broader program continued building the habits, preparation, and experience needed to succeed at work.
What the Results Show About Reentry Workforce Development
| Metric | Target | Actual | % of Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants completed forklift certification | 50 | 55 | 110% |
| Employment placement after graduation | Majority (>50%) | 49% | 98% |
| 90-day job retention | 90% | 81% | 90% |
| Participants avoiding rearrest | 85% | 89% | 105% |
The certification result shows that Turn90 successfully built and used the new training capacity during the grant period. The rearrest-avoidance result also finished above target, with 89% of participants avoiding rearrest compared with a goal of 85%.
The two measures below target are equally important to understanding the full year. Employment placement reached 49%, and 90-day job retention reached 81%. These results give Turn90 clear information to carry forward as the program continues.
Travanti's Certificate Captures the Human Side of the Results
The final report also included a participant story first highlighted in Turn90's 2025 Annual Report. Travanti described what earning the forklift certificate meant to him and his family.
“When I told my mom I got my forklift certificate, she started crying. She said it was because I was finally doing what I said I was going to do to change my life.”
The certificate represents a practical, transferable skill connected to jobs in logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing. It also marks a commitment completed, a goal reached, and a next step that Travanti could share with his family.
Three Lessons From the Grant Year
Turn90's final report identified several lessons that can strengthen future workforce training efforts:
Build internal training capacity. The train-the-trainer approach allows Turn90 to continue forklift instruction as part of its ongoing workforce program.
Integrate technical skills with workforce preparation. Forklift training worked alongside case management, cognitive behavioral programming, job readiness training, and paid work experience.
Maintain more than one trained instructor at each location. Turn90 identified staff transitions as a potential disruption and plans to continue Train-the-Trainer certification as staffing changes.
What Comes Next for Turn90
The forklift equipment and staff training capacity funded through the grant remain in place for future cohorts. Turn90 plans to continue Train-the-Trainer certification as staff changes occur so forklift training can remain available at its centers.
For the ATI Foundation, that sustainability reflects the purpose of workforce grantmaking: strengthen proven organizations, remove barriers to opportunity, and fund capacity that continues producing value after a grant closes.
Employers interested in learning more about hiring Turn90 graduates can visit the Turn90 hiring page.
CLICK HERE to read Turn90's full report about expanding their workforce development program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Turn90?
Turn90 is a South Carolina reentry organization that helps men returning home from incarceration find and keep legal employment. It operates centers in Charleston and Spartanburg and combines cognitive behavioral programming, case management, job readiness training, and paid work experience.
Does forklift certification help people find work after incarceration?
Forklift operation is an industry-recognized credential valued in logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing, all sectors that hire actively in South Carolina. In this grant period, 55 Turn90 participants earned the certification and 89% avoided rearrest, exceeding the 85% target.
What is a train-the-trainer model and why does it matter for grant funding?
A train-the-trainer model certifies an organization's own staff to deliver training rather than contracting outside instructors for each cohort. It matters for grant funding because the teaching capacity stays with the organization after the grant period ends, which is what allows a one-year award to keep producing results.
What happens to the forklift training now that the grant has closed?
The equipment, safety infrastructure, and certified instructors remain in place at both centers. Turn90 plans to continue Train-the-Trainer certification as staff changes occur so future participants can continue accessing forklift training.
QUICK FACTS
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Grantee | Turn90 |
| Project | Workforce Development Equipment Expansion |
| ATI Foundation Grant | $58,000 |
| Locations | Charleston and Spartanburg, South Carolina |
| Focus | OSHA-compliant forklift certification and logistics training |
| Participants certified | 55 against a target of 50 |
| Participants avoiding rearrest | 89% against a target of 85% |
| Period | September 9, 2025 to August 31, 2026 |