By Charles Young, The Exponent Telegram
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The board of the West Virginia First Foundation approved a plan Thursday that will see its first grant awards from opioid settlement funds distributed by the end of the year.
The foundation will award a total of $19.2 million in Initial Opportunity Grants, with $3.2 million going to each of the six regions in the state, according to First Foundation Executive Director Jonathan Board.
Board members identified four categories of nonprofit organizations from which grant applications will be accepted. Each region will receive $800,000 per category, with up to four awards per category per region.
The four categories are diversion programs and interdiction programs; youth prevention and workforce development; child advocacy centers/pregnant and parenting women neonatal abstinence syndrome programs; and transitional/recovery housing expansion.
Grant applications are now available on the First Foundation’s website and will remain open until 11:59 p.m. Oct. 5.
The applications will be reviewed by the foundation’s Interim Grant Committee and Expert Panel, and final approval will be made by the foundation’s board of directors.
The grant recipients will be notified on or before Dec. 31.
