Rutherford Opioid Board accepting grant applications
County seeking proposals from agencies focused on prevention, treatment, recovery — deadline to apply is March 31, 2026
The Rutherford County Opioid Board is seeking funding applications and program proposals from local partner agencies that focus on prevention, treatment and recovery.
In 2022, Rutherford County experienced 130 fatal overdoses, a 37% increase from 2019. To respond to this need, Rutherford County established the Rutherford Opioid Board in 2022 to oversee strategic dissemination of opioid abatement funds to repair and strengthen the community. These funds are provided to counties in Tennessee as part of a $26 billion national opioid lawsuit involving pharmaceutical distributors and a manufacturer, with Tennessee receiving $700 million in anticipated payouts over 18 years from 2021-2038.
With Rutherford County expecting to receive nearly $4.5 million in opioid abatement dollars from 2023-2026, the Rutherford Opioid Board established the MTSU Office of Prevention Science and Recovery to assist the county in evidence-based utilization of settlement dollars and to serve as a resource to other Tennessee counties.
Rutherford County has directed these funds as available for community and government organizations to apply for on a rolling basis to meet needs pertaining to local work addressing opioid use disorder. Organizations interested in applying for these funds can access the online application and review instructions on requirements for submission.
The application packet and multiple resources are available online HERE. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2026.
Several grant writing workshops are available for technical assistance between now and the deadline. Those include the following:
Online Webinar: Feb. 10, at 10 a.m.
This webinar will be recorded and uploaded to the website for ease of access during the application period.
Join Zoom meeting
https://mtsu.zoom.us/j/89712239854
Meeting ID: 897 1223 9854
In-Person Training: Feb. 26 at 2 p.m.
Smyrna Public Library (Multipurpose Room)
400 Enon Springs Road
Smyrna, TN 37167
In-Person Training: March 2, 10 a.m.
Technology Engagement Center
306 Minerva Drive
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
For more information about the application process, please visit the MTSU Office of Prevention Science and Recovery website.
