Looking to improve public spaces in your community or develop new health initiatives? The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) is releasing two funding opportunities in November: TSET Built Environment Grants and TSET Discovery Grants. These programs support innovative projects that encourage healthy lifestyles and improve health across Oklahoma. Get ready to apply and make a lasting difference in your community.
What You Need to Know
- Two Grant Opportunities: TSET Built Environment Grants and TSET Discovery Grants
- Grant Application Period: November 19, 2024 – February 12, 2025
- Who Can Apply: Colleges and universities, public schools, municipalities, state and county government agencies, tribal nations and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
TSET Built Environment Grants: Transforming Public Spaces
This grant is designed to reshape public spaces into areas that promote physical activity and well-being. Whether it’s building parks and trails or revitalizing community recreational facilities, these grants create opportunities for active lifestyles.
In 2022, TSET awarded Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU) a TSET Built Environment Grant to renovate their outdoor recreational space. The campus now boasts one full basketball court, two half-basketball courts, three tennis courts and eight pickleball courts. These facilities on the college campus are open and free for anyone in Alva to use.
"The community response has been overwhelmingly positive," said Tandy Keenan, Director of Sponsored Programs at NWOSU.
Past awardees include:
- The City of Seminole, which received $480,333 for improvements to Boomtown Park to create a more user-friendly, walkable and ADA-compliant environment.
- Eastern Oklahoma State College, which received $110,000 to develop a plan for a new health and wellness center.
- Cushing Public Schools, which received $972,512 to build a 1.63-mile concrete trail to close a gap in bicycle and pedestrian access through Cushing and provide access to Cushing Public Schools.
Proposals for a TSET Built Environment Grant must be project-driven, time-limited and benefit a specific area or population. Projects should have support from multiple partners and applicants must agree to participate in an external evaluation.
TSET Discovery Grants: Innovative Health Initiatives
These grants fund projects that introduce new strategies to address critical health issues in Oklahoma. Grants focus on programs that:
- Promote tobacco prevention or cessation for high-risk groups;
- Maintain or improve the health of Oklahomans;
- Enhance provision of health care services, particularly for children and youth; or
- Enhance the health and well-being of senior adults
TSET awarded a TSET Discovery Grant to NewView Oklahoma to create a wellness space tailored to employees with blindness or low vision. The project included an accessible community garden, walking trails and exercise equipment. The project transformed a smoking area into a wellness hub.
“We are grateful to TSET for funding this initiative for our clients and employees,” said Lauren Branch, president and CEO of NewView, Oklahoma. “The walking path just opened, and already our employees are taking advantage of the safe and accessible space to get outside and move.”
Previous awardees include:
- Oklahoma State University, which received $750,000 for the OSU Student Farm to increase access to fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables through regional and local food banks and pantries in Oklahoma.
- Gateway to Prevention and Recovery, which received $748,311 for a tobacco and vaping prevention and cessation program to be embedded in local school districts.
Organizations are encouraged to think outside the box and be creative when addressing the health and wellness needs of a community.
Whether you’re seeking to enhance public spaces or launch innovative health programs, TSET’s grant opportunities provide the resources needed to bring these ideas to life. These grants are more than just financial support—they’re investments in the long-term health and well-being of Oklahomans.
For more details on eligibility, project requirements, and how to apply, visit TSET’s funding page.