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CRAWFORD COUNTY—Crawford County is now accepting applications for opioid remediation projects through its Opioid Settlement funding. Businesses, not-for-profit organizations and tax entities serving Crawford County are eligible to apply.

Projects eligible for funding should focus on treatment, prevention or other opioid reduction strategies. Crawford County has chosen to give preference to projects addressing needs within the areas of transportation, child and family support services, housing, prevention education, re-entry service, support groups, law enforcement and first responders. 

These funds come from a joint effort to hold accountable those companies that have contributed to the opioid epidemic across the nation. In 2020, the Missouri General Assembly established the Opioid Addiction Treatment and Recovery Fund to receive settlement payments. In 2021, the state received its initial settlement payment. As of January 2024, settlements continue to be negotiated and finalized by the state and the political subdivisions that signed on to the lawsuit. Crawford County is one of 106 counties participating in the opioid lawsuit. 

Those interested in applying can receive an application by contacting the Crawford County Opioid Fund Disbursement Board Chairperson William Harlan at williamharlan99@gmail.com or Secretary Denise Mueller at dmuel747@gmail.com. The application will be made available online in the near future. The Crawford County Opioid Fund Disbursement Board will collect all proposals, score applications and make recommendation of funding approval or denial. The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) will review projects selected by the committee for completeness and ensure that activities proposed are eligible under Exhibit E/Schedule B – Approved Uses for Opioid Remediation. MRPC will submit all committee-selected projects and committee funding recommendations to the Crawford County Commission, along with its administrative review information, for the county to make funding decisions and disburse funds. The Crawford County Commission, who is the recipient of the funds, will make final determination on approval and disbursement. 

Proposals are due two weeks prior to the quarterly Crawford County Opioid Fund Disbursement Board meeting on June 4, 2024, Sept. 3, 2024, Dec. 3, 2024 and March 4, 2025. Application deadline is May 21, 2024, to be considered at the June 4 board meeting. Following deadlines are by Aug. 20 for the Sept. 3 board meeting; Nov. 19 for the Dec. 3 meeting and Feb. 18, 2025, for the March 4, 2025, board meeting. 

The county established a five-member board to assist with the disbursement process. Members are Chair William Harlan, ViceChair Mike Lovell, Secretary Denise Mueller, Commission Liaison Jax Jensen and Dennis Roedemeier. The board has been meeting for months and completed a strategic planning session to consider what resources the county has to address opioid-use-disorder and what resources are needed as it set its priorities for funding. 

MRPC assisted the board with setting its priories and will be assisting the county by ensuring selected projects are eligible expenditures under opioid settlements. MRPC will also be helping with securing required documentation and reporting. Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. Mary Heywood, representing the unemployed, serves as chair of the board. A professional staff of 30 offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.orgor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.

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