MTW Health Department to receive $210,000 matching opioid settlement grant; county approves resolution

Washington County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution on Feb. 6 supporting the expenditure of opioid settlement funds and a separate matching grant award for the Martin‑Tyrrell‑Washington (MTW) Health Department.

Andrea Freeman, finance officer for MTW, told the board MTW received a notice of award from a Vital Strategies program that provides matching funds through the North Carolina Community Foundation: $70,000 per year for three years (a total of $210,000) to supplement opioid settlement dollars held by the county. Freeman clarified that the matching funds are administered through the foundation and will be delivered to the county for distribution to MTW rather than paid directly to the health department.

Commissioner Tracey A. Johnson asked whether any of the funds go directly to MTW. Freeman replied, “No, the funds go to the County and the County distributes the money to MTW.” Commissioner Ann C. Keyes moved to approve the resolution (RESO 2023‑008); Commissioner John C. Spruill seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

What’s next: The resolution allows MTW to accept and spend matching funds consistent with the award; the meeting record does not include programmatic details beyond the grant amount, the funder (North Carolina Community Foundation), or a distribution mechanism through the county. Any specific program expenditures and reporting requirements will follow standard grant administration procedures and are not detailed in the Feb. 6 minutes.

The board proceeded to further business after recording the unanimous approval.