Opioid Committee Eyes Third RISE Funding Round

Opioid Settlement Funds Advisory Committee · Meeting of October 26, 2026

BELCHERTOWN — The Belchertown Opioid Settlement Funds Advisory Committee discussed applying for a third round of RISE matching grant funds and reconsidered where to locate a planned community wellness program. Chair Gail Gramarosa said the town's opioid settlement account holds $250,000 and that Belchertown and Ware could seek a smaller town match, roughly $25,000 to $30,000 versus the previous $50,000, while still drawing RISE's matching dollars ahead of a deadline around November 6. Housing and Care Navigator Lisa Rossin, five to six weeks into her job, reported meeting with groups including the Ware Housing Authority and Amherst Survival Center.

Members said the Clapp Memorial Library's basement was a poor fit for a wellness program, calling it "not inviting," and floated Town Hall or the senior center instead. A $3,500 addendum for Honest Beginnings' basement renovation heads to the Select Board on November 2. Director of Drug-Free Communities Chris Hull said the town's youth prevention group has grown to more than 30 members ahead of a February national conference.

In the full story:

• Introductions and Attendance
• South Hadley Hiring and Possible Clinical Support Partnership
• HALO Partnership and Family Overdose Support Fund Survey
• Honest Beginnings Renovation Addendum
• RISE Municipal Matching Funds, Round Three
• Housing and Care Navigator Update
• Quabbin Health District Nurse Search and Wellness Program Location
• Honest Beginnings Scholarship Follow-Up and Reporting
• State Reporting and CADCA Youth Conference
• Hampshire Hope and Regional Updates
• Next Meeting
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,605 words

Source: the Opioid Settlement Funds Advisory Committee meeting of October 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.