Opioid Settlement Funding Requests

Please read the Funding Request Application Process below before downloading:

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 Opioid Funding Application Form

Applicaiton Submission

Submit Application to:
City of Clarksburg
c/o City Clerk
222 West Main Street
Clarksburg, WV 26301
opioidfunds@cityofclarksburgwv.com

OPIOID SETTLEMENT BACKGROUND

Beginning in the 1990s, the increased prescribing of opioids caused an increase in addiction and overdoses across the country.[1] Additionally, increases in overdoses caused by the use of heroin and synthetic opioids began in 2010. It is estimated that nearly 645,000 people nationwide died between 1999 and 2021 from an overdose involving any opioid. This increase in opioid addiction and overdoses has been referred to as an epidemic by the health care industry and others.

West Virginia has been particularly hard hit by the opioid epidemic. In 2014, West Virginia had an overdose death rate of 35.5 deaths per 100,000 people, almost 2.5 times the national average of 14.7 deaths per 100,000 people.[2] Both of our United States Senators state that West Virginia leads the nation in overdose deaths.[3]

Part of the opioid crisis has been blamed on the pharmaceutical industry. These allegations have led to lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies by states across the nation. Such lawsuits have resulted in settlements totaling billions of dollars.

West Virginia, at the state and local level, brought various lawsuits against the pharmaceutical industry. These lawsuits have resulted in a number of settlements. The settlements have been structured according to the West Virginia First Memorandum of Understanding and funds are being distributed, in part, to local governments.

Clarksburg's Role in the Settlement

Clarksburg has received and will continue to receive funds from the settlement proceeds. As part of the settlement agreement, the City must manage those funds to help alleviate the opioid crisis and the harm that it has caused. The City may do this, in part, by providing grants to organizations.

The West Virginia First Memorandum of Understanding provides guidelines as to how to apply the settlement funds. Clarksburg summarizes and interprets that the settlement funds should be used for projects that further one or more of five categories. Those categories are: 

  1. Education
  2. Emergency Services
  3. Prevention
  4. Intervention
  5. Rehabilitation

FUNDING REQUEST APPLICATION PROCESS

In considering applications for funding requests from the City’s opioid settlement funds, all applications will first be reviewed by the City Manager and her designees for compliance with the following procedural requirements.

 Procedural Requirements:

    1.  Has the applicant filled out the City’s Opioid Funding Application Form?
    2.  Has the applicant adequately set forth the terms of the funding request?
    3. Is the applicant a governmental entity or tax-exempt nonprofit entity?
    4. Whether the request fits into one of the five categories of Education, Emergency Services; Prevention; Intervention; and Rehabilitation.
    5. Does the applicant have an established history of addressing the concerns and projects encompassed by one or more of the five categories.

      If any of Questions 1 through 5 are not “yes,” then the request will be summarily denied by the City’s staff.
    6. Is the request significant?
    • If so, has the applicant provided a funding/project/nonprofit business plan?
    • If the request is significant and there is no corresponding plan, then the request may be summarily denied by City staff.

If the City Manager determines that the application meets the procedural requirements, then it will be forwarded on to Council for consideration, including the following Substantive Considerations:

 Substantive Considerations:

    1. Whether the proposed use is better handled by another entity.
    2. The applicant’s track record and history.
    3. The applicant’s other sources of funding, both current and projected.
    4. Whether the request is for a one-time or ongoing expense.
    5. The proposed involvement or lack of involvement by the City.
    6. The applicant’s proposed outcome and the related evidentiary support.
    7. Funding of similar programs.

If a funding request is granted, the applicant should be prepared to provide an update quarterly to Council or upon reasonable request by the City Manager. Such update shall be written but upon request of Council (or as set forth in the award), the applicant shall appear at a Council meeting and provide an update.

Such update should provide, at a minimum, the amount of funds received, the amount of funds used, and any impact information measuring or describing the progress of the purpose of the award.

REFERENCES