Grand Traverse Seeks Community Input on Opioid Settlement Spending

The Grand Traverse County Health Department on January 8 opened a Request for Participation to recruit members for a newly formed Opioid Settlement Spending Advisory Committee, known as OSSAC. The request invites community residents, organizations and stakeholders to apply to help inform county priorities for opioid settlement funds, with an application deadline of 5:00 p.m. on February 6, 2026.

The OSSAC will provide guidance and recommendations on addressing the impacts of opioid use through prevention, treatment, harm reduction, recovery supports and other community-informed strategies. The RFP outlines participation expectations, eligibility requirements and the application process, and the county website includes links to the full Request for Participation document and the county’s Opioid Settlement Funds Spending Principles and Plan.

To apply, interested parties should submit materials to Diane Reeder at the Grand Traverse County Health Department by email at DReeder@gtcountymi.gov. Residents may also call 231-995-6107 for more information. By emphasizing broad community representation, the county aims to ensure settlement dollars are used effectively and equitably across Grand Traverse County.

How the advisory committee is constituted and which projects it recommends will affect funding decisions for local prevention programs, treatment capacity, harm reduction services such as naloxone distribution and syringe access where applicable, and long-term recovery supports. Those decisions have immediate implications for public health planning, local service providers and people directly affected by opioid use and their families. Engaging a diverse cross-section of the community is intended to center voices most affected and to address disparities in access to care and supports.

The county’s process also reflects broader questions about healthcare policy and accountability in the use of settlement funds that local governments across the country are addressing. For Grand Traverse County residents, this is an opportunity to influence how resources are allocated to reduce harm and expand treatment and recovery services locally.

Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on February 6, 2026. For submission and questions, contact Diane Reeder at DReeder@gtcountymi.gov or 231-995-6107. The health department encourages a wide range of community participation to ensure the committee’s recommendations reflect local needs and promote equitable outcomes.