Pipestone Area Coalition grant rescinded by CDC; county staff to pursue alternate prevention funding

Tyler, coordinator for the Pipestone Area Coalition, told commissioners that a five-year grant the coalition expected from the CDC was rescinded and will be recompeted after a delay of about 12 months. Staff said the rescission followed a review finding the CDC’s original scoring rubric did not meet administration standards. The immediate effect is that the coalition will be without CDC funding for approximately 12 months.

County officials and Tyler discussed continuity of local prevention activities. Tyler said she is employed through Southwest Health and Human Services under a separate cannabis‑substance‑use‑prevention grant (C‑SUB) from the State of Minnesota, which covers prevention programming across six counties including Pipestone. Staff said the cannabis prevention grant and separate opioid funds provide some continuity and that coalition work (school programming, parent and community education) will continue in modified form while CDC funding is unavailable.

Commissioners expressed regret at the rescission and thanked Tyler for her work; they encouraged applying for other grants, including opioid-related funding streams that could support related prevention services. Tyler said the previously awarded CDC grant had placed the coalition in school-based work but that the county’s other grants will allow much of the educational programming to continue. No board vote was required; the item was an informational update and direction to pursue alternative funding sources where possible.