Organizations in Mecklenburg County working to fight the opioid epidemic can now apply for funding to help their cause.

It’s part of the $1.5 billion opioid settlement awarded to North Carolina — a portion of the $56 billion national settlement reached with opioid distributors and big-name pharmacies.

Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio says the county has $6 million to provide as grants to organizations fighting on the front lines.

“Any nonprofit organization in our community that does services around opioid abuse, prevention, recovery, treatment — all of those organizations should put their hat in the ring for these dollars,” she said.

“The long-term goal is a few-fold. One is to prevent future overdose and death. We want to prevent further addiction in our community. And we want to provide services to the people who need treatment, who need housing, who need recovery support,” she said.

Diorio added if an organization isn’t ready to apply for this round of funding, there are plenty of opportunities in the future. The county will receive $72 million over 18 years to address the opioid epidemic.

Applications opened on mecknc.gov on Saturday and close Aug. 15.