OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 25, 2022) - The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) Board of Directors awarded $136,000 to communities across Oklahoma through the TSET Healthy Incentive Grant Program at their board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 25.
Grants are awarded to communities that have implemented key strategies for health including tobacco-free, vape-free environments, encouraging active living and transportation, supporting suicide prevention, promoting fruits and vegetables and making healthy food more appealing and affordable.
“Our local environment has a significant impact on how we live our lives,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “Communities that embrace and encourage healthy eating, active living and smoke-free environments are investing in the health and future of their citizens.”
Grant funds can be used for a variety of projects that improve work to increase opportunities for physical activity and access to healthy foods, such as biking and walking trails, playgrounds, community gardens and farmers markets. Incentive grant amounts vary based on community population and the types of health-promoting strategies implemented. Grants are often leveraged to attract additional partners.
TSET Healthy Community Incentive Grants approved on Tuesday were:
| GRANTEE | COUNTY | AWARD AMOUNT |
| Town of Lahoma | Garfield | $22,000 |
| City of Shidler | Osage | $10,000 |
| Town of Marble City | Sequoyah | $36,000 |
| Town of Wellston | Lincoln | $22,000 |
| Town of Tipton | Tillman | $36,000 |
| City of Wynnewood | Garvin | $10,000 |
| Total | $136,000 |
For more information about TSET Healthy Community Incentive Grants visit https://tset.ok.gov/content/healthy-communities-incentive-grants or contact Laura Matlock, program officer, at lauram@tset.ok.gov or by calling 405-764-4668.
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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.