NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The Opioid Abatement Council of Tennessee has announced the allocation of its inaugural round of community grants, amounting to $80,936,057, to combat the opioid crisis within the state. This funding initiative aims to support various programs addressing opioid addiction for a duration of up to three years.
During the application period last fall, 396 proposals were submitted by organizations statewide. These proposals underwent a rigorous evaluation process by the council’s staff and members, culminating in the approval of 116 grants during a council meeting in Farragut on March 18.
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The council had previously determined the allocation of funds across six strategic areas, resulting in the following distribution: Treatment programs received the largest share with $32,775,972, followed by Recovery Support at $18,970,500, Primary Prevention with $12,201,837, Education and Training at $8,173,701, Harm Reduction with $8,061,539, and finally, Research and Evaluation at $752,508.
The approved projects, designed by 85 different awardees, include 30 initiatives with a statewide scope. Additionally, approximately $5.7 million of the total grant amount is earmarked for capital projects. A complete list of the funded community projects is available here.
Dr. Stephen Loyd, the Chairman of the Opioid Abatement Council, expressed optimism about the impact of these grants. “When the history of the opioid crisis in our state is written, people will look back at this date as a landmark on the road to healing the unbelievable harm done to so many families and communities,” he said. Loyd emphasized that the thoughtful and careful deliberation of the grant process reflects the council’s commitment to addressing the opioid crisis and honoring the families affected by opioid addiction in Tennessee.
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