Will County Seeking Grant Applications for Programs Aimed at Addressing Opioid Epidemic

Will County has announced $2 Million in grant funds available to support programs aimed at addressing the opioid epidemic and supporting people who have been impacted by opioids. Organizations in Will County can apply for up to $250,000 to invest in treatment or prevention programs.

“This is a significant investment in community-based solutions to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic that has impacted so many lives throughout Will County,” said Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. “While Will County has been at the forefront in reducing opioid deaths and increasing access to treatment and recovery services, there remains much more work to do. I invite local organizations to apply for this grant as we continue to increase local resources available to those who are struggling.”

Funds were made available as part of a settlement agreement following a series of state and federal lawsuits against various pharmaceutical companies. As part of the agreement, Will County received settlement dollars received by the State of Illinois from companies involved with producing and distributing opioids. The Will County Board has voted to utilize these funds to create a grant opportunity aimed at treating Opioid Use Disorder and Substance Use Disorder.

“I am happy to work with fellow County Board Member Katie Deane-Schlottman on a grant program that will tackle one of the great public health crises of our time,” said County Board Member Sherry Williams. “Opioid use has claimed so many lives in recent years, locally and across the nation. Funding obtained through this settlement will enable us to reverse the tide in Will County.”

The grant will support Will County opioid remediation programs aimed at treatment and recovery. These include, but are not limited to, prevention programs, harm reduction programs, drugs that reverse opioid overdoses (such as Naloxone), medication-assisted treatment and/or recovery, and services for pregnant and post-partum people with opioid use disorder. Applicants for the grant must be located in Will County and dollars must be used for Will County residents only. Grant applications must be submitted by July 15, 2025.

“It’s gratifying to use settlement funding from big pharmaceutical companies to change the course of the opioid crisis in Will County,” said County Board Member Katie Deane-Schlottman. “There is a sense of justice in using the profits of greed to fund local programs that will help people from throughout our community reclaim their lives.”

For more information and to apply for the grant, visit www.willcounty.gov/OpioidProgram.