Overview

Due to the extensive damage and loss of life caused by the opioid crisis that was brought on by the unethical and over-prescribing of opioid medications, the state of Tennessee will be receiving over $1 billion over the next 18 years in settlement funds from several large corporations. Hickman County has been allocated a portion of these funds, which will be received in annual payments. The County Mayor has established the Hickman County Opioid Settlement Board to oversee the spending of these funds to ensure they are used to remediate the opioid crisis and save lives. The Board will invite community organizations to apply for these funds annually.

Availability of Funds

The selection process for funding will utilize a competitive process and the number of awards will be dependent on the amount of funds available for annual allocation. The amount of funds available and dates of application submissions and awards will differ annually.

Eligibility

Applications will be accepted from any organization that serves residents of Hickman County but will only be distributed to those that provide services that fall within the approved remediation uses set forth by the TN Opioid Abatement Council, listed below in Allowable Uses of Funds and outlined in Exhibit E. If an applying organization is located outside of Hickman County, funds will only be awarded to that organization if they are used to serve Hickman County residents. The Hickman County Opioid Board will dispense funds in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations that counties must adhere to when allocating funds to community organizations.

Required Documents for Application Submission

Proposals are due by November 30, 2026 and must be submitted to the Hickman County Finance Office by emailing crystal.fitzgerald@hickmancountytn.gov with the following required documents.

• Application for funding
• Completed budget template
• Completed work plan
• Current annual operating budget
• State certification, licensure, or accreditation if applicable
• Letters of support from any project partners or collaborators if applicable

Selection and Award Process

The Hickman County Opioid Board will review and score all applications received. Following the notice of award, the organizations will be contacted to discuss the contract process and specific metrics that must be reported back to the county. If the total amount requested is higher than the total amount available for distribution, the applicant will be contacted to discuss possible project and/or budget revisions.

Allowable Uses of Funds & Funding Restrictions

Awarded funds cannot be used for administrative or indirect costs. Activities must meet the definition of opioid remediation, be evidence-based strategies or promising practices, and align with the core strategies and allowable uses outlined by Exhibit E. Core strategies include:

• Naloxone or other FDA-approved drugs to reverse opioid overdoses
• Medication-assisted Treatment (MAT) distribution and other opioid-related treatment
• Address the needs of pregnant and postpartum women
• Expanding treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)
• Expansion of warm hand-off programs and recovery services
• Treatment for incarcerated population
• Prevention programs
• Expanding syringe service programs
• Evidence-based data collection and research analyzing the effectiveness of the abatement strategies within the state

Requirements if Awarded Funding

Organizations awarded funding are required to:

• Utilize funds within the defined funding period as agreed upon in the contract. If those funds are not used as agreed in the contract the applicant may:
  • Return any remaining funds to the Hickman County Opioid Board at the end of the funding period, OR
  • Request an extension to use the funds past the funding period, OR
  • Request an amendment to their current contract to use the remaining funds for additional strategies
• Ensure utilization of funds supplements, rather than supplants, existing funding
• Ensure all funds are used in alignment with remediation uses approved by the TN Opioid Abatement Council as described above
• Ensure funds are not used for administrative or indirect costs
• Provide data on program outputs, outcomes, impact, and effectiveness as determined by the Hickman County Opioid Board
• Complete and submit required quarterly and annual reports to the county
• Obtain required insurance coverage

Project Timeline

Projects are legally required to be completed within four years of date on which first funding is received.

Reporting Requirements

Organizations should provide quarterly progress & expense reports using a provided template, starting 14 days after the first project quarter if an alternative start date is agreed upon. The reports must outline the following:

• Staff working on the project
• Community partners involved with the project
• Challenges and barriers experienced within the associated timeframe
• Successes experienced within the associated timeframe
• Anticipated next steps
• Strategies addressed
• Number of Hickman County residents served with settlement funding
• All project-specific metrics determined by the Hickman County Opioid Board

An annual report is to be provided following project close at 30 days after project close, unless an alternative start date is agreed upon. The annual report must include all the above data and be submitted to mayor@hickmancountytn.gov.

Checklist of Required Documents:

_____ Application for funding

_____ Completed budget and budget narrative (template provided)

_____ Work plan (template provided)

_____ Current annual operating budget

_____ State certification, licensure, or accreditation if applicable  

_____ Letters of support from any project partners or collaborators

Promotional Media:

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