COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County Administrator Bud Norman provided an update to County Commissioners during their Thursday work session on American Rescue Plan Act and Opioid funds for the county.
He said there have been 15 requests for the $11 million worth of ARPA funds which is more than what’s available. Norman said at this time, 76 percent of the requests can be funded. One of the requests was for a proposed county broadband project.
The Branch County Board of Commissioners voted in March to pledge $1 million of the county’s ARPA money to help fund the proposed broadband project if the county could get a state grant.
The Opioid funds are required to be used for specific drug related items.
He said during a meeting two weeks ago the county has received $228,000 so far with payments being spread out over 18 years.
Branch County Commissioners decided in 2018 to join other Michigan cities and counties in a lawsuit against 21 drug companies, distributors and pharmacies in an attempt to get back expenses from the national opioid crisis.
The Detroit law firm of Sommers and Schwartz worked on behalf of Branch County. They estimated there were 268 opioid overdoses in Branch County between 2013 and 2016.
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