Beginning under the watch of Tom Vilsack, former agriculture secretary for President Barack Obama, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, now under the administration of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, has also rolled out significant resources to assist rural communities with the ongoing struggle opioid epidemic. In the past several days, USDA has announced $10.7 million in Community Facilities program grants as well as partnerships with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to support rural communities.

“With its impact on workforce, quality of life and the economic vitality of rural communities from Maine to California, the opioid epidemic is more than just a matter of public health; it is an issue of rural prosperity,” USDA assistant to the secretary for rural development Anne Hazlett said.

USDA is partnering with rural communities in 22 states on 85 projects to support opportunities for opioid prevention, treatment and recovery. The $10.7 million through the Community Facilities program will be used as grants to help rural communities plan and build local responses.

In Newport, Ark., the White River Women’s Shelter is receiving a $150,000 grant to convert the former Jackson County Jail into a shelter for people recovering from opioid misuse. It has partnered with Families Inc. to provide substance abuse counseling for all ages on an individual, couple, family and group basis. It will primarily serve residents in Jackson County.

Related:Farm groups launch campaign to assist in rural opioid crisis

In Roodhouse, Ill., the Jersey Community Hospital District is receiving a $150,000 grant to purchase and renovate a building that will house the rural health clinic. The facility will provide treatment, counseling, education and outreach to combat the opioid crisis in Roodhouse and White Hall. The Hospital Administration & Governing Board has made addressing substance misuse a priority. The proposed facility will help provide prevention, treatment and recovery for the area’s 4,300 residents.

In Wellsboro, Pa., Harbor Counseling is receiving a $130,600 loan and a $70,200 grant to renovate a facility that will be used for transitional housing for clients receiving substance misuse treatment. Harbor Counseling offers assessment, treatment and recovery for individuals and families dealing with substance misuse and mental health issues. It also provides community education and community support.

Hazlett announced that USDA is making investments in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Related:Opioid crisis hitting farmers

HHS partnership

USDA announced Sept. 6 that a group of cooperative extension partners will have the opportunity to apply for grants from HHS to help communities combat opioid use disorders. HHS intends to build on successful 2017 and 2018 projects with the USDA National Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA) Rural Health & Safety Education that focus on opioid abuse.

“With the impact opioid misuse is having on rural America, we cannot build strong, prosperous communities without addressing this crisis,” Hazlett said. “USDA is committed to working hand in hand with rural leaders and fellow mission-driven organizations – including other members of the federal family – to be a strong partner in this battle.”

The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of HHS is engaging with the Cooperative Extension System (CES) to bring opioid prevention, treatment and recovery activities to rural America more efficiently. CES is a federal, state and local partnership that operates out of the nation’s land-grant universities, empowering communities of all sizes to address challenges they face, from nutrition and food safety to responding to emergencies.

SAMHSA is accepting applications for fiscal 2018. Eligible applicants are existing NIFA cooperative extension grantees that focus on opioid issues affecting rural communities.

The grants HHS is offering through the Rural Opioid Technical Assistance (ROTA) program must be used to develop and implement robust collaborations with CES to improve the health and vitality of rural communities across the nation. ROTA will help communities develop and disseminate training and technical assistance to address opioid use disorder.

The ROTA program is make $8.25 million in funding available. Proposed projects cannot exceed $550,000 in total costs (direct and indirect). The application deadline is Sept. 20, 2018. View the SAMHSA funding opportunity announcement for details.