West Virginia First Foundation Begins Reviewing Applications | News, sports, jobs

(Capitol Notes – Graphic Illustration/MetroCreative)

CHARLESTON – With the application deadline now closed for the West Virginia First Foundation’s Initial Opportunity Grant program, foundation staff and a panel of experts will begin reviewing applicants to distribute a portion of the opioid settlement funds. The application deadline for the foundation’s Initial Opportunity Grant program was October 5. The foundation received 174 applications for the $19.2 million Initial Opportunity Grant program, which distributes $800,000 per four targeted areas to six regions of the state and provides up to four awards per targeted area per region.
“It was a lot of late nights and a lot of early mornings, and a lot of people just took 24 hours to get the whole thing together.” said Jonathan Board, executive director of the West Virginia First Foundation, during a virtual meeting Thursday afternoon. “As you know, we passed the deadline for these applications last Saturday and it’s very exciting.”
The board said the foundation will conduct entrance reviews of applications to determine compliance with the requirements of the Initial Opportunity Grant program.
“Once the entrance examination is completed, these applications will be compiled and forwarded for review and evaluation with the expert panel and then forwarded to the board for approval.” Board said. “The recording is almost complete at this point.”
Funds approved under the Initial Opportunity Grant program may be used toward four goals that address the state’s substance abuse crisis: drug diversion and interdiction programs, youth drug prevention and workforce development, child counseling centers, and pregnant/parenting women (PPW) abstinence in newborn syndrome programs and transitional and/or recovery housing developments. Of the applications that passed the entrance review, 58 applications were received for youth prevention/workforce development, 27 applications were received for diversion/prohibition programs, 21 applications were received for child counseling centers/PPW/newborn abstinence syndrome programs, and 17 applications were received for expanding transitional /recreation apartments.
“You can see that our biggest involvement to date – we still have a few more to go – has been in youth prevention and workforce development.” Board said. “It wasn’t necessarily expected, but we certainly welcome it.”
Most of the applications reviewed to date have come from region four, which covers counties in north central West Virginia, followed by region five (Kanawha/Putnam/Cabell in the southwest counties), region three (Mid-Ohio Valley), and region two (Eastern panhandle). ), region six (southern West Virginia) and region one (northern Panhandle). Eligibility for the Initial Opportunity Grant program is limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and other types of nonprofit organizations and organizations that have a charitable or public purpose. Organizations with a statewide mission could only apply in the region where their organization is headquartered or where the project for which they are applying for the grant is located. Non-profit organizations are excluded from applying.
“There are a lot of things for us to consider in this process, and I can tell you we have been very thoughtful in our approach.” Board said. Once approved, the grants would be disbursed gradually, with 40% being paid initially and then tranches of 20% thereafter. The awards would be announced on or before December 31. Grantees would also have to go through a rigorous vetting process, including submitting financial and accounting reports to the foundation. The foundation has additional employees on the board. Jessicah Cross, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-Wa., will serve as chief of staff. Rachel Thaxton, the former interim director of the state Office of Drug Control Policy, will serve as operations manager.
Steven Allen Adams can be reached at [email protected]