This and that, midweek edition

Lafayette distributes $500K in opioid settlement money. IU Health’s hospital, WL Golf Course’s housing plans head to APC. $7.2M primate exhibit project starts at Columbian Park Zoo. And more.

• Support for this edition comes from Tipmont. Tipmont is thankful for the opportunity to serve our communities with leading-edge delivery of electric service and fiber broadband. All Tipmont locations will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28, so our employees can enjoy the holiday with those closest to them. If you need to pay your bill at that time, SmartHub is available online at tipmont.smarthub.coop. You can also call 800-726-3953 and press 2 to use our easy, fast, secure automated solution.

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This and that midweek …

LAFAYETTE SHARES $500,000 IN OPIOID SETTLEMENT GRANTS

A dozen organizations working on programs dealing with opioid misuse, treatment, recovery support and harm reduction will share in $500,000 in grants from Lafayette’s funds from state settlements with pharmaceutical makers and distributors, according to a distribution approved Tuesday morning.

The city reported receiving 18 applications for grants totaling $1.3 million from the $3.37 million the city expects to get over the next 16 years from the opioid settlements. From those, a committee assigned by the city awarded a total of $500,000 for programs that “demonstrate measurable community impact, collaboration and clear alignment with opioid abatement uses.”

“This is just round one,” Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski told the city’s board of works Tuesday morning. “You’ll be seeing some more of these to come over the next couple of years.”

Among the recipients:

• Paul’s Plans Ministries, $64,782, to buy a van and to expand recovery transportation and outreach.

• Transformed Birth Services, $14,000, for community doula support for individuals in recovery or affected by substance use.

• Grace Recovery, $9,000, teen and young adult recovery support groups.

• Outreach Advocacy Center, $95,000, to hire a nurse practitioner providing four hours per week of services at the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Living Room.

• Mt. Hope Lifeline Connection, $30,000, for renovation of a women’s recovery residence.

• Lafayette School Corp., $158,550, for a mental health coordinator, teen/parent cafés and Remedy Live programming.

• The HIVE Recovery Center, $21,250, for ADA renovation of restrooms and showers.

• Willowstone Family Services, $15,849, for counseling services for individuals in recovery.

• Mental Health America, $45,880, for mobile peer support and navigator position.

• United Way of Greater Lafayette, $12,065, for a youth summit focused on prevention and resilience.

• LTHC Homeless Services, $30,000, for Housing Mitigation Funding program.

• Food Finders Food Bank, $3,624, to expand “Warm Hand-Off” program to recovery services.

The grant recipients were chosen by a panel including Roswarski; City Clerk Cindy Murray; City Attorney Jacque Chosnek; Adam Murphy, Lafayette Police Department’s community advocate and resource navigator; and Amanda Ferguson, LPD’s homeless and community outreach liaison.

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WORK STARTS ON NEW, $7.2M COLUMBIAN PARK ZOO PRIMATE EXHIBITS

Work is expected to start in December on a $7.2 million primate facility at Lafayette’s Columbian Park Zoo.

The city’s board of works agreed to a contract that set the guaranteed maximum price for a project expected to be done in January 2027.

Here’s a look at the spider monkey exhibit plans. (Image view Lafayette Parks)