Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council Releases Second Announcement of Funding for Community Grants

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Tennessee’s Opioid Abatement Council (OAC) today released its second Announcement of Funding for Community Grants.& This offering will add $20 million dollars for approved opioid remediation activities to the tens of millions of dollars that are already flowing to provide services across the state. The funding available through this grant application process comes from hundreds of millions of dollars in proceeds from lawsuits against opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies negotiated by the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office.& According to legislation passed by the Tennessee General Assembly, these proceeds are first split with 15% going to the state and 15% going to county governments and 70% going to the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund.& The dollars in the trust fund are split again with 35% going directly to the counties for approved opioid abatement activities and 65% going to the Opioid Abatement Council for community grant applications.& This last, largest percentage is made available through a competitive grant application process. The Announcement of Funding outlines the process for application including criteria for constructing grant applications, designing programs, building partnerships, and reporting outcomes.& Proposers must design programs that impact opioid use disorder their communities using methods contained in the& approved remediation list& including:...