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Budget committee forwards up to $2.5M-per-year opioid treatment grant for Helen Ross McNabb Center
Summary
The Blount County Budget Committee recommended forwarding an application for up to $2.5 million per year for three years to the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council to expand adult opioid treatment services at the Helen Ross McNabb Center; the grant needs no local match and is slated to begin July 2027.
The Blount County Budget Committee on March 12 voted to forward to the full commission a proposed application to the Tennessee State Government Opioid Abatement Council seeking up to $2.5 million per year for three years to support co-occurring opioid treatment services at the Helen Ross McNabb Center.
At a committee meeting chaired by Finance Director Brian Baldwin, a McNabb Center representative explained how the program would be administered and funded. "We currently have a similar operation already in place with Blount County Juvenile Court," the representative said, adding that the county invoices the state for reimbursement and that no local match is required. Committee members approved the recommendation by voice vote (four yeses).
The grant would support the center’s transition campus and begin in July 2027 if awarded. The McNabb representative said the three-year award would allow the provider to evaluate insurance reimbursement and other revenue streams to sustain services after the grant period. "This grant is a three-year grant that will begin in July of 2027, and there is the opportunity to apply for subsequent cycles," the representative said.
Commissioner Anderson pressed for clarity on local cost exposure, asking, "Do you foresee that there are any other expenses that we're going to need or maybe recommended to incur as a result of receiving these grant funds from local tax dollars?" The McNabb representative replied that operating costs would be covered by the grant and by billing insurance or other grants as applicable, and that the three-year window would be used to establish sustainability plans for participants who obtain insurance coverage.
Committee members also asked whether unspent funds could carry over. The McNabb representative said funds allowed carryover between operating years and indicated there may be provision to extend spending up to 12 months after the grant expires, based on prior grants the center administers.
The committee’s favorable recommendation moves the application to the commission workshop for further consideration; no final award decision was made at the meeting.
