Redding residents will soon have an opportunity to compete for a share of the county’s opioid settlement money after the Shasta County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to issue a call for applications for up to $1.5 million. The decision, made in a 4‑1 vote with Supervisor Kevin Crye dissenting, was reported by Shasta Scout following the board meeting on Tuesday.
The settlement stems from a 2018 lawsuit in which Shasta County was one of more than 3,000 plaintiffs against opioid manufacturers and distributors. The county was awarded $38.9 million to be paid in annual installments through fiscal year 2038‑2039. To date, more than $13 million has been received, with the remainder scheduled to arrive over the coming years.
Under California law, the settlement funds must be directed toward opioid‑use remediation, with at least half earmarked for “high‑impact” abatement activities identified as priorities by the state. The new request for proposals (RFP) differs from a prior open call issued in late 2024, which allowed organizations to give six‑minute pitches directly to the board. That earlier process drew criticism for lacking expert review, a strategic plan, and evidence‑based metrics, according to the source.
To address those concerns, the board will appoint a three‑member committee of county staff to evaluate the incoming proposals. The committee will include Deputy CEO Erin Bertain, Chief Probation Officer Tracie Neal, and Health and Human Services Agency Branch Director Cindy Lane. Their role will be to review applications and advise the supervisors, though final funding decisions will remain with the elected board members.
In the past, four of the 20 organizations that presented pitches received settlement money, including two nonprofits under the Community Opioid Response and Education (CORE) coalition, Shasta College, and the Shasta County Substance Use Coalition. The source noted that previous allocations were made without a standardized process, leading to community controversy over potential conflicts of interest.
Local nonprofits, health agencies, and other eligible entities are expected to submit applications soon, though the exact deadline was not specified in the report. After the committee completes its review, the board will hold a final vote on how to distribute the $1.5 million.
What’s next: Interested organizations should watch for the official RFP announcement from the county, prepare detailed proposals that meet the state‑mandated high‑impact criteria, and be ready for the board’s final funding decision later this year.
Sources: shastascout.org
