Beltrami opens opioid settlement funding for local health projects

The Beltrami County Public Health Department has opened requests for proposal for the county's third round of opioid settlement funding, seeking projects that can reduce harms and improve recovery services across the community. Applications are due by noon on Feb. 27, 2026, and selected projects will serve during the funding period from July 2026 to December 2027.

The county expects to award an estimated $70,000 for this funding period, with the possibility of larger awards for collaborative projects that span agencies or jurisdictions. Funding categories include harm reduction, prevention, criminal justice, treatment and recovery, reflecting a broad public health approach to the opioid crisis that spans prevention through long-term recovery supports.

An Opioid Steering Committee staffed by county leaders will oversee the application review process, and all awards require final approval from the Beltrami County Board of Commissioners. Applicants are being asked to demonstrate plans for sustainable impact and to commit to working collaboratively with county staff. Successful projects must submit quarterly reports and share agreed-upon data to track outcomes during the grant period.

For local service providers, nonprofits and community partners, this round of funding is a practical opportunity to test interventions or expand existing programs that reach people actively using drugs, people in treatment, and those reentering the community from the criminal justice system. Because the pot of money is limited relative to the scale of need, applications that show partnerships across agencies, clear data measures and sustainability beyond the grant window may be more competitive.

Public health officials say the funding categories are intended to support a full continuum of services rather than single-point solutions. That approach aligns with evidence showing that combined strategies - from syringe services and naloxone distribution to treatment access and reentry supports - produce stronger, longer lasting reductions in overdose and harm.

Residents and organizations can find the application and program details on the county website at co.beltrami.mn.us under the Opioid Steering Committee page. Applicants should allow time for collaborative planning and to meet the noon Feb. 27 deadline.

For Beltrami County, these funds represent both a practical investment and a test of local coordination. How community groups, health providers and the county align around measurable goals will shape whether these settlement dollars translate into reduced overdoses, stronger pathways to treatment and more equitable access to recovery supports in Bemidji and the surrounding communities.