By CRAIG HOWELL

Staff writer

NEW CUMBERLAND — Hancock County now has its own application for those agencies and organizations wishing to receive a portion of the county’s share of opioid settlement funds.

During their meeting Thursday, county commissioners approved an application to be used as part of its process of distributing any funding received by the county under settlement agreements reached through a series of lawsuits filed by the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office against various pharmaceutical companies and regulated through the West Virginia First Memorandum of Understanding.

Commissioner Paul Cowey noted Thursday’s motion would create a sanctioned application document for those wishing to receive funds from the county’s portion of the opioid settlement funds.

“We finally have a form,” Cowey said. “That’s what we’re approving.”

According to the form, “the intended uses of opioid funds are limited to specific purposes according to the West Virginia First memorandum of understanding,” generally classified as providing for education, emergency services, prevention, intervention and rehabilitation.

The county’s new application requests information to include an entity’s full legal name, Federal Employer Identification Number, address, email and phone number and the names of the entity’s board of directors, officers or members.

The form also asks applicants to describe the proposed use of any funds awarded, and how it would fit into the general categories, an estimate of the project’s cost, a description of other funding sources, the amount being requested from the county, how the funds will further the project, and any potential future needs from the county.

All decisions on monetary awards will be made by the county commission.