Opioid Abatement Authority grants committee advances roughly $35.2 million in FY27 awards, approves renewals and new projects

Sarah Thomasson, chair of the Opioid Abatement Authority grants committee, opened the meeting and led the committee in approving motions to move forward with staff recommendations on planning amendments, renewals and cooperative awards.

"What you'll see today is a set of recommended grants to cities and counties that totals about $35.2 million for next fiscal year," Executive Director Tony McDow told the committee, saying staff had vetted figures against settlement formulas and statutory guidance. He added the board is drawing on roughly $18.66 million from its unallocated fund to balance multi‑year obligations.

The operations director, Charlie, briefed members on the FY27 application pool and the staff review process. Charlie said staff received 157 applications for FY27 — a year‑over‑year increase — with five applicants withdrawing, two recommended for denial and 150 recommended for funding. He described the recommended FY27 awards as part of a larger $50.9 million package that includes about $15.7 million in carry‑forward.

Staff reviewed standard contingencies that will apply to awards, including subscription to the Opioid Abatement Authority newsletter as the official communication channel, execution of written subrecipient agreements before fund transmittal, an 80% encumbrance requirement before transferring carry‑forward funds, documentation for matching commitments, and explicit limits on using award funds for legislative advocacy.

For larger, multi‑year capital projects the committee heard new reporting and payment rules: quarterly capital cost progress reports and milestone‑based disbursements, with an initial transfer of 25% after pre‑transmittal contingencies are satisfied and subsequent 25% installments tied to documented milestones (staff said there is limited flexibility in exceptional cases).

Staff highlighted specific buckets of awards: 51 individual distribution renewals (roughly $3.66 million in 2027 awards), 58 cooperative partnership renewals (about $31 million, including approximately $2.2 million in unrestricted funds), and 21 new cooperative projects (approximately $10.9 million total, $8.3 million from unrestricted funds). The staff presentation noted regional differences in applications and described several projects that staff proposed to 'right‑size' or move between funding buckets to reflect one‑time capital needs, including a Hope House expansion to acquire a second recovery facility.

Staff flagged one individual distribution application from Warren County (the "Fantasy Lands Park" rehabilitation project) as not meeting Exhibit E and statutory requirements and recommended against including it in the approvals; the county may appeal the staff recommendation to the full board or withdraw the application.

During public comment, clinicians and local partners praised the authority's awards for enabling local recovery services. "We witness on a daily basis lives changed because of the money that you have sent to Far Southwest," one commenter said. Dr. Margaret, who identified herself as an addiction psychiatrist at Brown, and Lisa Thompson, who said she is an assistant branch manager for Floyd library and a town council member, offered examples of peer recovery specialists and local supports funded by OA grants.

The committee voted on a series of block motions: approval of planning grant amendments, approval of individual distribution and cooperative partnership renewals, and approval of operation‑stop renewals. The motion to approve renewals and cooperative awards passed, with one abstention recorded on the cooperative renewals block. Chair Thomasson closed the meeting after recording the votes.

What's next: staff will complete pre‑transmittal contingencies and the normal true‑up process to finalize award amounts before funds are transferred; Warren County was informed of the recommended denial and may pursue the board appeal process.

Votes at a glance: a motion to approve the Feb. 23, 2026 minutes passed; planning grant block amendments were approved; a block of individual distribution and cooperative partnership renewals was approved; cooperative renewals passed with one abstention; operation‑stop renewals were approved. Specific vote tallies by named member were not recorded on the transcript.

(Reporting based on committee proceedings and staff presentation.)