Prep work should start soon

Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition hopes to close on the house it plans to develop into a recovery home in Portland and begin prep work as soon as possible.

Commissioners heard updates about the organization’s project Monday.

IU Health Jay is donating the property at 422 W. Votaw St. to be converted into a sober living facility, which should serve between 15 and 17 male residents at a time. Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition and IU Health Jay announced the partnership May 15.

Ally Raines, director of Peer Addiction Support Team recovery services at Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition, noted hopes to close on the house today. Once it is owned by the organization, Raines said plans are to begin work outside, such as landscaping and other cleanup.

Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition also plans to have a feasibility study conducted on the structure to determine what renovations are needed. Raines noted that the organization is working with architect Michael Bruns of Fort Recovery — he has offered to do the feasibility study — as well as contractor Muhlenkamp Building Corporation of Coldwater, Ohio.

Once the organization has gained possession of the house and Jay County Opioid Settlement Taskforce has reviewed the study, Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition will return to commissioners to request federal opioid settlement funds for the study.

Raines noted the organization has applied for a Building Communities of Recovery grant through Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to help with the overhead cost. (According to its website, the grant allots up to $300,000 toward each awardee per year for up to three years.) If received, the new facility could be operational as soon as July 2025.

She also pointed out Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition’s naming contest for the facility received nearly 200 submissions. The group has narrowed its selection down to five names and hopes to share those with the community in the next week.