USDA offering funding to address opioid crisis in rural communities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting applications to a pair of grant programs that aim to address opioid misuse in rural communities. The federal agency is setting aside $5 million in the Community Facilities Grant program and is giving priority to Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program applications that propose innovative projects addressing the issue."The opioid epidemic is dramatically impacting prosperity in many small towns and rural places across the country," said Anne Hazlett, the assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development. "This this focused investment, we are targeting our resources to be a strong partner with rural communities in building an effective local response to this significant challenge."Under the Community Facilities Grant program, rural communities, nonprofits and federally recognized tribes can apply for grants of up to $150,000 for projects like mobile treatment clinics. They can fund up to 75 percent of an eligible project.