Bangor Opens Applications for $650,000 in Opioid Settlement Funds

Bangor, Maine, has officially opened applications for its share of opioid settlement funds, with the city announcing on November 27, 2023, that organizations can apply for grants to combat the opioid crisis and substance use disorder. Interested groups must submit their applications via the city’s website by noon on December 1. This funding opportunity comes approximately three years after Bangor began receiving settlement funds and just four months after the formation of its Opioid Settlement Funds Advisory Committee.

The city plans to allocate about $650,000 in this funding round. To date, Bangor has utilized around $550,000 of its funds on a case management program aimed at addressing an HIV outbreak primarily affecting drug users in the area. Additionally, $20,000 has been dedicated to needle cleanup services. The advisory committee, which has been actively meeting since its establishment, recognized the urgency of funding HIV services before opening the application process for broader projects.

Grant Application Details and Funding Tiers

The application is available to organizations based in Maine that provide services within Bangor. Applicants can seek funding across three tiers: up to $10,000, between $10,001 and $25,000, and from $25,001 to $50,000. The advisory committee will review the proposals and make recommendations to Bangor’s City Council, which will ultimately decide on the allocation of funds.

The city is forecasted to receive approximately $3.4 million in opioid settlement funds through the year 2038. This significant amount underscores the ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of the opioid crisis in the region. However, recovery advocates have voiced concerns regarding the delays in disbursing funds already received, particularly criticizing the large allocation towards the public health department’s HIV case management program.

Penobscot County has also announced that it is accepting grant applications for its opioid funds but is only distributing about a third of its available resources in this funding round. The combined efforts of Bangor and Penobscot County highlight the growing focus on addressing the opioid epidemic and its associated challenges.

As Bangor moves forward with these initiatives, the community remains hopeful that the funding will effectively support local organizations in their fight against substance use disorder and its far-reaching consequences.