The Opioid Abatement Authority’s finance committee voted to authorize the finance committee chair to sign a memorandum of understanding with the newly formed Opioid Abatement Foundation and approved $100,000 in seed funding in the current fiscal year to support the foundation’s work.

Executive Director Tony McDowell described the foundation as a separate nonprofit, registered with the State Corporation Commission, created to provide education and outreach to OAA grant recipients and potential subrecipients. He said the board previously authorized him to negotiate the agreement and that the MOU specifies how the OAA will support the foundation with limited in‑kind administrative services (mail handling, basic staff support) and how foundation revenues or profits could be used for future educational events.

"The OAA as part of this agreement would provide $100,000 in seed funding in the current fiscal year," McDowell said, and added that the MOU includes provisions about how that funding may be used and potential repayment or reinvestment of any future profits.

McDowell also said the foundation has approved a contract with Eastern Associates, a professional event-management firm, to produce a statewide conference expected in June. He described a conservative budget that forecasts roughly 160 attendees from cities and counties, 50 private-sector attendees, 25 vendors and sponsorship revenue; the foundation projects revenues exceeding expenses under that scenario.

During the committee discussion a public/chat question asked whether opioid settlement funds could pay for attendee travel; McDowell replied that such expense is allowable because "100% of the content is education on opioid abatement strategies." Committee members then moved to new business. Chair Todd Pillion nominated Delegate Sewell — the board's treasurer — to be finance committee chair; the committee approved the nomination by voice. The committee subsequently considered and approved a motion "to authorize the chair of the finance committee to sign the proposed MOU between the two organizations." The motion was moved, seconded and passed by voice vote.

What’s next: The MOU execution and the foundation’s conference planning will proceed; staff said the foundation's event and communications work will be supported by OAA in‑kind services and the agreed seed funding.