New grants to focus on built environment and policy or nutrition and physical activity
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) is now accepting applications for new grant opportunities. Eligible proposals will fall into one of two tracks: projects that improve the built environment and health-related policy or initiatives that encourage healthy nutrition and exercise.
Oklahoma communities, non-profit 501(c)3 organizations, tribal nations, institutions of higher learning and public agencies are invited to apply. Applications will be accepted from Dec. 15, 2021 until March 15, 2022 at 4 p.m.
“Creating healthy communities happens when a variety of partners come together. TSET is seeking new opportunities to support innovative projects that encourage healthy living,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “TSET is seeking new partnerships with organizations that have projects and initiatives that support increased access to physical activity and remove barriers to healthy eating.
“Grants for built environment acknowledge the tremendous impact that our communities have on our health and seek to create safe and convenient spaces for physical activity,” Bisbee said. “Funding for nutrition and exercise seek to ensure that Oklahoma families have access to affordable, nutritious foods and encourage physical activity for all community members.”
Three behaviors: sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use and poor nutrition cause four conditions – heart disease, lung disease, cancer and diabetes – which lead to 64% of deaths in Oklahoma.
TSET is seeking to support eligible organizations to reduce the risk factors for these preventable deaths and grow partnerships statewide to support Oklahomans in making the healthy choice the easy choice.
This new funding opportunity seeks to support immediate, impactful opportunities to positively transform and improve the health of Oklahomans and should target a specific area or population and be supported by multiple partners.
The policy and built environment grants will fund projects that strengthen existing practices that seek to prevent and reduce tobacco use, physical activity and nutrition practices by enhancing community infrastructure. Eligible projects might include tobacco-free districts in towns or communities, improvements to farmers markets, sidewalks, playground equipment, bike lanes and multi-use trails, and designs or feasibility studies for similar infrastructure projects.
The maximum award for the policy and built environment funding is $350,000 per year for up to two years. Applicants must provide a 1:1 match.
Through grants in innovations in active living and healthy eating, TSET aims to fund initiatives that seek to increase participation in regular physical activity and promote nutritious eating. Successful proposals will promote these activities on a large scale to support widespread change and help reduce risk factors for preventable death and disease in Oklahoma.
TSET strategic efforts partner with communities to reduce the risk factors for these preventable deaths and grow partnerships statewide to support Oklahomans in making the healthy choice the easy choice.
A variety of projects will be considered, including programs that provide nutritious foods for children, community-supported agriculture and pedestrian wayfinding signage, among other things. Projects that focus on encouraging exercise and nutrition in populations with the greatest rates of obesity will be prioritized. While not required for the active living and healthy eating grants, preference will be given to projects with a match.
The maximum award for grants in innovation in active living and healthy eating is $250,000 per year for two years.
For complete guidelines and application information, visit tset.ok.gov/funding-opportunities/requests-for-proposals.
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The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations working toward shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working across the state, by cultivating innovative and life-changing research, and by working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public's health. To learn more, visit TSET.OK.GOV.