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OAA incorporates supporting nonprofit, seeks seed funding and plans professional communications and trademark protections
Summary
The OAA reported incorporation of a supporting nonprofit foundation and asked the board to authorize a $50,000 seed grant and contracting authority for public‑relations and trademark legal services. Staff said the foundation will run a statewide best-practices conference and accept sponsorships the OAA cannot.
The Opioid Abatement Authority reported the formal incorporation of a nonprofit foundation intended to support OAA activities and asked the board for two authorizations: seed funding of $50,000 and authority to contract with professional communications firms and trademark counsel.
Tony McDowell, executive director, said the foundation has an initial slate of trustees and will focus its first 12 months on launching a statewide best-practices conference for substance-use abatement. "The primary goal for the foundation over the next 12 months is to launch a statewide best practices conference," McDowell said. He described the foundation as a separate nonprofit that can accept sponsorships, sell exhibit space and manage registration in ways the OAA itself cannot under state rules.
The initial slate of trustees named in the meeting included Tim Spencer (OAA secretary), Tyler Lester (of Addington), Dr. Jackie (surname in transcript unclear; listed as affiliated with VCU), and Renee Robinson, who McDowell described as a banker with nonprofit development experience. The OAA told the board it will present a contract between the OAA and the foundation specifying shared business services (website hosting, mail handling and staff support) and asked the board to authorize the OAA finance committee to review and sign that contract.
Separately, McDowell told the board the OAA needs professional public-relations and communications services to tell programmatic success stories, produce outreach content including video, and manage the OAA’s brand. Staff outlined a proposed scope that would include a comprehensive PR strategy, website updates, social media setup and a cadence of regular stories for lawmakers and local officials.
Finally, staff said the OAA should trademark its seal to prevent misuse of the logo by other entities and estimated legal costs at roughly $2,500–$5,000. The board authorized seed funding for the foundation, contracting authority for communications work, and authorization to retain trademark counsel.
Board members asked staff to route the foundation contract to the finance committee for review and to return any draft communications scopes for committee oversight.
