Finance committee approves $138,000 in opioid settlement grants for local addiction services

The Chippewa County Finance, Claims and Accounts Committee approved $138,000 in opioid settlement distributions for fiscal year 2026 to four local recipients, the committee said during its Dec. 16 meeting.

The awards — recommended by the county Opioid Settlement Committee and vetted by legal counsel — allocate $45,000 each to CLM Community Action and Great Lakes Recovery Centers, $29,500 to Face Addiction Now (FAN) for community education and outreach, and $18,500 to the Chippewa County Mental Health Court for case management services. Health Department staff and the Opioid Settlement Committee reviewed seven applications totaling $183,292 and recommended the four recipients based on the direct services they plan to provide to county residents and collaborations with local partners.

Why it matters: These funds are part of the county's share of national opioid‑settlement proceeds and are intended for services consistent with the settlement guidelines (Exhibit E). County officials said the selected programs are expected to focus on direct service delivery and work toward sustainability beyond the settlement funding. The Health Department's Karen Senkus was acknowledged for her role in preparing the FY2026 funding recommendations.

The motion to approve the distributions was made by Commissioner Justin Knepper and supported by Commissioner Jim Traynor; the motion carried on a voice vote. The committee did not report any dissenting votes on this item.

Next steps: Recipients will receive the FY2026 allocations as presented; the committee noted ongoing oversight and review of funded programs to encourage sustainability and alignment with the settlement guidelines.