Community Grant Program

The City of Middletown Health Department administers the Opioid Settlement Funds Community Grant program as part of a broader national settlement with opioid manufacturers and distributors. This settlement provides funding to municipalities over an extended period of approximately eighteen years, with the specific goal of mitigating the harmful impacts of opioid misuse. The Middletown Health Department operates under a mission to preserve, promote, and protect public health through equitable prevention strategies, community partnerships, and educational initiatives. In alignment with this mission, the grant program emphasizes responsible and strategic allocation of funds to address opioid-related challenges within the local community. The program is guided by five key principles established in the Connecticut Opioid Response Initiative report. These include prioritizing life-saving interventions, relying on evidence-based approaches, investing in youth prevention efforts, advancing racial equity, and ensuring transparency and fairness in funding decisions. These principles shape both the selection and evaluation of proposed projects, ensuring that funded initiatives contribute meaningfully to reducing opioid-related harm and disparities in Middletown. Funding is available to support projects that align with approved opioid abatement strategies, as outlined in designated remediation use guidelines. Eligible proposals must demonstrate a clear connection to these strategies and articulate how the requested funding will be used to achieve measurable outcomes. The grant program has a funding cap of 40000 dollars per proposal, although partial funding may be awarded depending on available resources and proposal strength. Awarded funds must be fully expended within a one-year period following contract execution, establishing a defined performance timeline for all funded projects. Eligibility for the program is broad but locally focused. Any agency or organization that provides services to the Middletown community may apply, including prior applicants in good standing. Applicants are required to submit a detailed proposal outlining the purpose of the project, target populations, anticipated outcomes, and alignment with approved opioid response strategies. The application must also include information on any matching or supplementary funding, although such contributions are not explicitly required. A separate, detailed project budget must be submitted as part of the application materials. The application process includes both written submission and a presentation component. Applications must be submitted by July 17, 2026, at 4:30 PM Eastern Time, either in person at Middletown City Hall or via email to the designated health department contact. Following submission, applicants are required to deliver a virtual presentation of up to ten minutes to the Middletown Board of Health. This presentation should summarize the proposal, highlight its community impact, and demonstrate the applicant’s experience and readiness to implement the project. Awardees are subject to structured reporting requirements throughout the grant period. Interim and final reports must include detailed descriptions of project activities, performance metrics, and financial expenditures. Additionally, recipients are required to present project outcomes at a Greater Middletown Opioids Task Force meeting. All promotional materials related to funded projects must acknowledge the support of the National Opioid Settlement Funding through the City of Middletown Health Department. Questions regarding the program can be directed to the Director of Health, who serves as the primary contact for applicants.