Alexander County approves opioid funding and urgent care grant application

The Alexander County Board of Commissioners convened on July 14, 2025, to address key resolutions aimed at improving community health services and managing opioid settlement funds. The meeting began with a discussion led by County Attorney Ben Falconberry regarding an amended resolution to direct the expenditure of opioid settlement funds.

Falconberry explained that the resolution is necessary under the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the state and Alexander County, as well as the settlement funding agreements. The resolution authorizes an increase of $74,687 to the fiscal year budget for the Post Overdose Response Team (PORT). This funding will allow for the addition of one new full-time peer support specialist position, which had previously been on hold pending accurate projections of opioid settlement funding revenues and expenses. Falconberry expressed gratitude to Shannon Childers and the PORT team for their ongoing efforts to support citizens struggling with substance abuse due to the opioid epidemic. The board unanimously approved the amended resolution.

Following this, the commissioners moved on to a resolution authorizing an application for a building reuse grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce. This grant aims to assist the Urgent Care of Mountain View with renovation costs for a facility they will lease on Macedonia Church Road. The facility, currently a medical site, has vacant space that will be renovated for urgent care services. This initiative is significant as it will establish the only after-hours medical facility in the county, providing essential emergent care to residents. The project is expected to create eight full-time employee positions and will involve collaboration with Catawba Valley Medical Center and property owners during the renovation process.

The meeting concluded with a clear commitment from the board to enhance healthcare access in Alexander County through these initiatives, reflecting a proactive approach to addressing both the opioid crisis and urgent medical needs in the community.