West Virginia First Foundation begins work vetting grant applications | News, Sports, Jobs

CHARLESTON — Now that the deadline for applications for the West Virginia First Foundation’s Initial Opportunity Grant program is closed, foundation staff and a panel of experts will begin work on vetting applicants to distribute a portion of opioid settlement dollars.

The deadline for applications for the foundation’s Initial Opportunity Grant program closed Oct. 5. The foundation received 174 applications for the $19.2 million Initial Opportunity Grant program, which will distribute $800,000 per four target areas to six regions of the state, with up to four awards per target area per region.

“It has been a lot of late nights and a lot of early mornings and a lot of uh just pulling 24 hours to get this out the door,” said Jonathan Board, executive director of the West Virginia First Foundation, during a virtual meeting Thursday afternoon. “As you know, we just closed the deadline on those applications this past Saturday and it is very exciting.”

Board said the foundation will perform intake reviews on the applications to determine compliance with the requirements of the Initial Opportunity Grant program.

“Once the intake review is completed, those applications will be compiled and sent on to be reviewed and scored…with the expert panel and then will be sent on to the board of directors for approval,” Board said. “The intake is almost complete at this point.”

Funding approved through the Initial Opportunity Grant program can be used for four targets dealing with the state’s substance use disorder crisis: drug diversion programs and interdiction programs, youth drug prevention and workforce development, child advocacy centers and pregnant/parenting women (PPW) neonatal abstinence syndrome programs and transitional and/or recovery housing expansion.

Of the applications that have gone through the intake review, 58 applications were received for youth prevention/workforce development, 27 applications were received for diversion/interdiction programs, 21 applications were received for child advocacy centers/PPW/neonatal abstinence syndrome programs, and 17 applications were received for transitional/recovery housing expansion.

“You can see that our highest participation thus far – again, we have a few more to go through – was in youth prevention and workforce development,” Board said. “That was not entirely expected, but certainly something that we welcome.”

Most of the applications review so far have been submitted from region four covering counties in North Central West Virginia, followed by region five (Kanawha/Putnam/Cabell in southwestern counties), region three (Mid-Ohio Valley), region two (Eastern Panhandle), region six (southern West Virginia), and region one (Northern Panhandle).

Eligibility for the Initial Opportunity Grant program is limited to non-profit organizations with a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and other kinds of non-profits and organizations that fulfill a charitable or public purpose. Organizations with a statewide mandate would only be able to apply in the region where their organization is headquartered or where the project they’re requesting the grant for is located. For-profit entities 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,” Board said.

Once approved, grants would be disbursed in phases, with 40% disbursed initially, then tranches of 20% after that. Awards would be announced on or before Dec. 31. Grant awardees would also have to abide by a rigorous review process, including filing financial and accounting reports with the foundation.

The foundation has additional staff joining Board. Jessicah Cross, a former staffer for U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., will serve as chief of staff. Rachel Thaxton, the former interim director of the state Office of Drug Control Policy, will serve as director of operations.