Community Access
Last updated
West Virginia
Last updated
72.5% West Virginia First Foundation share: Not… yet? (required) The Foundation’s requires its Board of Directors to provide an opportunity for public comments and questions at each of its regular quarterly meetings, with each speaker being given no more than 5 minutes.[1] However, as of September 1, 2024, the Foundation’s Board have not yet included any dedicated public comment periods.[2] Upcoming meeting dates of the Board and information to attend virtually are available on the Foundation’s .
Regional expert panels. Expert panels, established to provide input and recommendations on spending and review grant proposals from their designated region, are also required to “engage with the public of their Region quarterly to identify concerns and funding priorities.”[3]
24.5% local share: Up to each locality (not required). Local governments are not required to seek public input on uses of their shares. However, each may choose to seek such input.[4] Watch for opportunities to weigh in on city and county spending decisions, such as city council meetings and town halls.
Yes. Visit the West Virginia First Foundation’s “Requests for Proposals” to view current opportunities for grants from the 72.5% Foundation Share. Local governments may create grant programs to distribute their share of funds. The existence, parameters, and processes for local settlement grant programs will vary by locality, so stay alert for new opportunities. Visit the (OpioidSettlementTracker.com and Legal Action Center) for the most up-to-date information on settlement grant opportunities for community organizations.
For updates on the Foundation share, visit the West Virginia First Foundation’s , which includes , a list of , and links to that govern its activities.
To find updates on the local share, a good starting point is to check the websites for your county commission, city council, or local health department. See, e.g., the opioid settlement-specific websites maintained by , , .
You can also check for updates on Community Education Group’s which tracks information about the 13 states of Appalachia.
The Foundation’s website includes a .
. West Virginia First Foundation, Inc. Feb. 2, 2024. ↑
See, e.g., . Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑
. West Virginia First Foundation, Inc. Accessed September 1, 2024. These “identified needs” are “vetted by the Regional Panel and … submitted to the State Panel.” Id. Regional Panels also must “conduct a needs assessment in their Region every fiscal year to aid the
Board in formulating the annual budgeted amount of disbursements,” , and “convey Regional needs to the State Panel,” . ↑
See, e.g., . City of Clarksburg News and Information page. August 9, 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑
