(Editorial - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

The West Virginia First Foundation held its second quarterly board meeting of 2026 earlier this month. They spent a lot of time on items such as appointing new volunteer expert panel members, reviewing progress on the 2026 Local Government Expenditure Report, getting updates on “new resources being developed to help local governments identify promising practices and learn from successful approaches being implemented across West Virginia,” and updates on programs such as the Community Catalyst Grants and West Virginia Wayfinder.

“Each meeting provides an opportunity to review progress, strengthen accountability, and continue building on the work being done across the state,” said Greg Duckworth, chairman of the WVFF Board of Directors.

Many of us have sat in on similar meetings filled with updates and reviews, wondering when we would get to the good stuff, right?

For the WVFF board, that moment may have come when they voted to approve $4 million in direct funding to the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute at West Virginia University, which is working on “expanding access to innovative addiction treatment and recovery support tools while building the technology and infrastructure needed to support implementation across West Virginia.”

Now THAT is progress toward fulfilling the foundation’s mission. It must be said, however, that many communities will look forward to seeing their public officials take advantage of those upcoming new resources to help them spend their money properly.

The eye-rolling that accompanied many expenditures of “Covid-19 money” just a few years ago is now appropriate for some of the grants being doled out as local governments try to find ways to spend money they don’t quite know what to do with.

“Our board remains focused on ensuring these funds are invested responsibly and strategically for the benefit of West Virginia communities,” Duckworth said.

Benefit of West Virginia communities in their fight against the substance abuse epidemic that CONTINUES to ravage our state, we must hope.