By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
- • Geauga County, Ohio commissioners are proposing to allocate up to $100,000 in opioid settlement grant funding to local initiatives, including equipment for the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office.
- • The funding would come from OneOhio opioid settlement dollars distributed to local governments for prevention, treatment, recovery and abatement programs.
- • Officials said part of the funds could help furnish recently renovated space at the sheriff’s office rather than using taxpayer dollars.
- • Grant proposals are subject to a request-for-proposals process and will be evaluated under standard criteria before awards are made.
CHARDON, OH — Geauga County commissioners are preparing to open a $100,000 grant cycle using opioid settlement funds that could include requests for equipment at the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, officials said.
The county’s Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services and commissioners plan to issue a request for proposals by the end of January for local projects funded by that portion of Ohio’s broader opioid settlement allocations.
Officials highlighted that the Mental Health & Recovery Board will administer the application process and that final funding decisions will be made by the county commissioners.
One potential use of settlement funds discussed during a recent commissioners meeting was purchasing basic furnishings for space recently renovated at the sheriff’s office for partner agencies. Supporters said using grant funds would alleviate the burden on county taxpayers.
The settlement money is part of state-level opioid abatement funding designed to support local prevention, treatment and recovery efforts under the OneOhio framework, and all proposed uses must meet criteria established in the grant process.