TSET Board Awards Schools Incentive Grants and Announces New Funding Opportunity

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) Board of Directors awarded $61,500 to school sites and school districts across Oklahoma through the TSET Healthy Incentive Grants Program at Thursday’s board meeting.

In total, $33,000 in TSET funds were awarded to seven school sites, including Porter Consolidated JH/HS and Elementary Schools in Wagoner County; Ravia School in Johnston County; Marietta Elementary, Middle and High Schools in Love County; and Newcastle High School in McClain County. An additional $28,500 in funds were awarded to three school districts: the Oklahoma School for the Blind, Fairview Public Schools and Okeene Public Schools.

“These grants recognize the effort of schools that are actively promoting healthy lifestyles,” said TSET Executive Director Julie Bisbee. “Studies show that active, healthy kids perform better in school and habits formed early last a lifetime.”

The Healthy Incentive Grant Program focuses on strengthening policies and practices to improve school nutrition, increase physical activity, improve student wellbeing and provide tobacco-free environments for students, staff and faculty. These health-promoting practices and policies are based on national best practices and recommendations from experts.

Once schools have passed the recommended criteria, they are eligible to apply for a grant. Grant funds can be used for health-based projects chosen at the local level. Grant funds have been used for a variety of projects, including playgrounds, new cafeteria equipment, hydration stations and curriculum. Incentive grant amounts vary based on enrollment and the types of strategies implemented.

Additionally, the TSET Board voted to release a new funding opportunity and accept proposals for projects that would help encourage Oklahomans to eat healthy and be physically active. Proposals must identify immediate, impactful opportunities to improve the health of Oklahomans, target a specific area or population, be supported by multiple funding partners and agree to participate in an external evaluation process.

Applications will be open in December 2021 through March 2022. Applicants will be notified of award in May 2022 and contracts begin July 1, 2022. To receive notice when guidelines and the application are available, visit https://tset.ok.gov/content/requests-proposals.

The maximum award for the policy and built environment funding is $350,000 per year for up to two years. Successful proposals will demonstrate 1:1 match. Funds can be used for a variety of projects that to include improvements to farmers markets, sidewalks, playground equipment and signage.

Grants for innovations in active living and healthy eating will be up to $250,000 per year for two years and seek to fund projects that focus on encouraging exercise and nutrition in populations with the greatest rates of obesity. While not required, preference will be given to projects with a match.

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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.