LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government announced a $3 million grant program to distribute opioid settlement funds to nonprofits serving Fayette County, according to a release from the Department of Social Services.

The Opioid Abatement Community-Based Initiatives Grant Program, administered through the Substance Use Disorder Intervention Program, will fund nonprofits pursuing evidence-based approaches to addressing opioid use disorder, overdose prevention, behavioral health treatment, recovery, and community stabilization. The funding represents part of approximately $30 million in settlement proceeds that Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government has received from national opioid litigation settlements.

The grant program offers two funding tracks: micro grants up to $75,000 for projects spanning December 1, 2026, through December 30, 2027, and macro grants of $75,001 to $250,000 for work through December 30, 2028. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with a physical presence in Fayette County.

The Request for Proposals will be released July 2 at 2 p.m. via the city's Ionwave system. Agencies must register on the platform to receive notifications and download the RFP. The application deadline is 2 p.m. EST on Friday, August 7.

The city is offering multiple opportunities for applicants to seek assistance. An informational webinar is scheduled for Thursday, July 2, at 11 a.m. on Microsoft Teams, with a recording available afterward. Technical assistance sessions and grant writing workshops are planned for July 7, July 9, July 21, and July 23. Additional details and workshop registration are available through the Department of Social Services website.

The grant allocation comes as the Urban County Council in April approved spending $3 million of its roughly $8.9 million in opioid settlement funds on the grant program. According to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, Kentucky local governments have spent only about 10 percent of the opioid settlement funds distributed to them as of mid-2025, with many communities sitting on the money without clear spending plans.