Delaware Launches $30M+ Opioid Grant Program to Strengthen Local Recovery Efforts

The Delaware Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission (POSDC) is pleased to announce plans to disseminate grant funds to eligible local governments in Delaware. This funding stream enables local governments and their community partners to implement and scale essential services across the continuum of care to prevent and respond to drug overdoses, including prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery support. Grantees under the Local Government Grant Program will receive more than $30 million over the next 12 years, ensuring a long-term, sustainable commitment to local abatement efforts. 

The new grant program provides formula-based allocations exclusively for the ten subdivisions recognized under the Delaware ROADS MAP agreement: New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties, alongside the municipalities of Wilmington, Newark, Middletown, Smyrna, Dover, Milford, and Seaford. This initiative is anchored by three core objectives: ensuring the fair and equitable distribution of funds, maintaining transparency and accountability, and maximizing long-term public health impact. 

“The opioid crisis didn't just happen to Delaware; it hit our families, our neighborhoods, and the people we rely on to keep us safe,” said Brad Owens, Executive Director of the POSDC. “This grant program is a long-overdue investment in the people holding our communities together. From our first responders to our healthcare workers, the strain on our public systems has been relentless. This is about more than ‘abatement’; it’s about giving our towns the resources to fight back and help people recover.” 

Owens has been meeting with local government leaders across the state to discuss funding opportunities and the Commission’s expectations. This outreach will continue throughout March with a full schedule of presentations before additional town councils and public forums. As these sessions progress, local leaders are actively engaging stakeholders — including public safety departments, fire services, and community advocates — to identify the most impactful ways to deploy these resources. 

For the 2026 cycle, $3.25 million is available to local governments. To access these funds, eligible subdivisions and their partners must apply through the Commission’s grant portal. Commission staff will review all proposals for compliance with the settlement agreement and alignment with Delaware’s abatement strategies. Projects that pass this review will move forward for a formal Commission vote. The first-quarter meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 23, with a subsequent opportunity at the second-quarter Commission meeting in June. Approved recipients must participate in regular financial reporting and site visits to ensure transparency and measurable impact. 

This new initiative builds on the momentum of the Round 3 competitive cycle, which recently awarded $14 million to 63 organizations statewide. These awards bring the Commission’s total distribution to over $29.5 million across 142 grants, marking a major milestone in the allocation of Delaware’s projected $200+ million in settlement funds. While the Commission is currently focusing on the local government and competitive grant programs, it is actively preparing to expand its impact with the launch of a third funding stream — the Opioid Impact Fee Fund — later this year. 

For more information about the Delaware Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission and the status of prescription opioid settlements, visit deopioidsettlementfunds.org.