Dubois County ARC opens 2026 grants for recovery, wellness projects

Dubois County ARC opened its 2026 grant application cycle July 14, giving organizations and agencies that serve the county until Thursday, Aug. 28, 2026, at noon to apply for money tied to prevention, treatment, recovery and community wellness. Late submissions will not be accepted, and applicants must file electronically through the county grant application information page before giving a verbal presentation at a September ARC meeting.

The grants are aimed at work that fits ARC’s role as Dubois County’s Local Coordinating Council, the countywide planning body Indiana uses to address alcohol and other drug problems. In practice, that puts schools, nonprofits, treatment providers, recovery supports, public safety partners and other local agencies in the pool if their projects can strengthen prevention, education, intervention, treatment or community collaboration. ARC Coordinator Jenna Bieker Jones said the council wants to support efforts that expand help for individuals and families affected by substance use and related challenges.

ARC’s current community plan lists its vision as Hope, Healing, and Prevention and its mission as Empowering Communities, Transforming Lives. The council meets on the second Tuesday of each month except September, when the meeting is reserved for grant application presentations. Its executive committee lists Jenna Bieker Jones as chair, James Hay as co-chair, Laura Wathen as prevention representative and Gina Neukam as recovery representative, alongside members connected to business, law enforcement, medicine, probation, religion, youth and finance.

The size and spread of ARC’s 2025 awards show the range of projects the council has backed before. In December 2025, ARC distributed $36,431.54 to local programs, including Brosmer House, Dove House, Drug Court, Dubois County Probation, Forest Park, the Jasper Police Department and Youth First. The money was split across prevention and education, treatment and intervention and criminal justice services, showing that projects do not have to fit one narrow category to be considered.

ARC changed its name in 2024 from Dubois County Substance Abuse Council to Dubois County Advocacy for Recovery and Prevention Council, a shift meant to use less stigmatizing language while keeping the same mission. The group’s public prevention calendar also continues into late summer, with its ninth annual Overdose Awareness Candlelight Vigil scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Huntingburg. The grant window now gives local groups a chance to turn those county priorities into funded projects before the August deadline closes.