Delaware County is looking to spend another round of opioid settlement money. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)
Delaware County is looking for ways to spend $4.1 million in new funding from a multi-state opioid settlement reached last year.
This is the second round of funds from a pool of $63 million that the county will receive in 18 annual payments and is expected to be available in January, according to a release.
The money must be spent within the confines of the settlement. Based on previous recommendations from the Delaware County Opioid Task Force and community input, county council has approved the following five initiatives for this round:
• Hiring a coordinator to gather public insight on the use of funds, plan for current and future fund expenditures, and handle reporting.
• Establishing a “Community Recovery Center” to act as a resource hub for the community and to provide support for those with substance use disorder and their families.
• Providing supports to people in early recovery, such as transportation, food and clothing assistance, workforce training, rental and utility assistance and GED preparation.
• Providing prevention education to the community through various methods and programs.
• Hiring certified recovery specialists to assist in connecting people to treatment, who could also be available twenty-four hours a day in local emergency rooms.
County Council is encouraging health care providers, vendors, educational institutions, nonprofits, and other organizations working to address the opioid epidemic to submit grant applications.
The county issued a request for proposals last week, with applicant questions due Friday. Responses will be posted by the close of business Jan. 3 and RFP responses are due by Jan. 12.
The county anticipates reviewing proposals next month and council is expected to consider proposals Feb. 7. The release notes grantees must expend all funds by May 31, 2025, or the county may recapture and reallocate the funds.
For more information regarding the settlement and for copies of downloadable grant applications for round two, visit DelcoPA.Gov/Settlement.
Applications can be submitted via email to Kelly Bonner, contract administrator, at bonnerkm@delcohsa.org until 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 12.
