The Bloomington City Council will debate a new funding method for the city’s Downtown Outreach Grant Program.
The outreach program can no longer be funded by the city’s Parking Meter Fund due to city ordinance 13-13, which prevents supporting local public service non-profit agencies.
So, the council will consider using money from the Opioid Settlement Fund instead.
Related: Most localities still holding onto opioid settlement funds
The downtown outreach program’s total funding need is $250,000. Appropriation Ordinance 2025-02 would request $50,000 from the Opioid Settlement Unrestricted Fund and $200,000 from the Opioid Settlement Restricted Fund. Money from the restricted fund can only be used for drug treatment and prevention purposes.
The Downtown Outreach Grant Program supported the work of several Bloomington and Monroe County services last year, including Beacon, Community Kitchen of Monroe County, New Hope for Families, and Wheeler Mission Ministries.
As of late 2024, Monroe County still has $1,000,000 of opioid settlement money, which is being used for several drug treatment organizations.
Read more: Opioid settlement money helps Monroe County organizations