Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Treatment Program Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rutherford County approves second $100,000 to Hustle Recovery and moves grant cycle earlier amid scoring debate
Summary
The board approved the remaining $100,000 of a previously requested $200,000 for Hustle Recovery, agreed to move the first grant-cycle deadline from May 15 to April 15, and deferred a decision about lowering the program presentation threshold from 80 to 70 to a later meeting.
Rutherford County's opioid advisory board voted to release the second $100,000 tranche to Hustle Recovery, completing the organization's originally requested $200,000 allocation, and agreed to move the first grant-cycle deadline earlier to April 15.
Program staff presented updated metrics and a client testimonial. Staff corrected an initial participant-count error (an early figure of "28" was corrected to 19 participants for tracked quarters) and described high completion and follow-up success for county-funded participants. "They have already provided services to 28 individuals" was corrected by staff during the meeting to 19 participants; staff said they would send corrected numbers to the board.
Board members debated grant-scoring policy. Staff recommended lowering the automatic presentation threshold from 80 to 70 so that programs with strong service records but weaker grant-writing would not be excluded; staff framed a 70 score as a viable "B" in their rubric and proposed technical-assistance referrals for lower-scoring applicants. Several commissioners countered that the board should maintain rigor and use grant funding to motivate improvement. The board agreed to move the application-cycle first deadline from May to April by motion and to revisit the scoring threshold at the next meeting.
After discussion a motion to provide Hustle Recovery the additional $100,000 passed on a roll-call/voice vote with commissioners recorded as voting yes. Program staff said Hustle's model combines a 30-day partial hospitalization program with vocational placement via a staffing subsidiary and partnerships with local employers; staff described a vocational "recovery fund" that helps clients save wages to pay fines and rebuild stability. Hustle staff also described new residential capacity on 11.5 acres and therapeutic modalities including equine therapy.
Next steps: staff will send corrected participant counts and continue building post-award management supports, including suggested training for new grantees and visual reports that agencies can use with their own funders. The board will revisit the scoring-threshold question at its next meeting.
