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Waseca County board approves opioid settlement RFP to award community grants quarterly
Summary
Waseca County approved bylaws for an opioid advisory council and a quarterly RFP process to award opioid settlement funds, aiming for roughly $50,000 in priority grants in 2026 and requiring awards to avoid supplanting existing funding.
WASECA, Minn. — The Waseca County Board of Commissioners voted to approve bylaws for a local Opioid Advisory Council and to release a request-for-proposals process to distribute opioid settlement funds to community organizations.
Public health staff told the board the advisory council had finalized bylaws after months of meetings and recommended a quarterly RFP process to solicit and score proposals. The first RFP round would open Nov. 1 and close Dec. 2, with awards returned to the board for approval before funds are spent.
“We are estimating, that a goal of about $50,000 for 2026 for addressing priority areas would be within scope,” public health staff said during the presentation. The county’s public survey prioritized prevention and family- and community-based programs, followed by treatment and recovery services.
Board members stressed that settlement money must supplement — not supplant — existing programs. A commissioner noted the settlement language “is pretty particular on that,” and staff said the RFP asks applicants to demonstrate sustainability and explain whether continued funding will be needed in future years.
Under the approved process the advisory council will compile a list of interested nonprofits, schools and other service providers and publicize the RFP in county channels and a listserv. The council will review submissions, score them against priorities, and bring recommended awards to the board for final approval.
The board adopted the RFP packet substantially in the form presented and instructed staff to publicize the opportunity. Staff said subsequent quarterly windows will allow organizations additional chances to apply if they miss the first round.
What happens next: The RFP opens Nov. 1; proposals are due Dec. 2. The council will score submissions and return recommendations to the board for approval before expenditures are made.
