Public Health – Seattle & King County has been awarded two highly-competitive federal grants totaling $25.5 million over two years to address obesity and tobacco use.

Obesity and tobacco use are leading contributors to premature illness, death and health care costs locally and nationwide. These federal stimulus dollars are a great one-time opportunity going to our communities to pay for changes that will have lasting effects. They will primarily fund activities by local community agencies, schools, businesses and governments that will have a population-level impact, as opposed to providing services and education to individuals.

Examples of grant activities include supporting corner stores in offering more healthy options, providing healthier foods in schools and childcares, restricting tobacco marketing and providing smoke-free environments, and promoting city planning, zoning and transportation that is pedestrian and bike friendly. The goal is for every King County resident to have access to healthy choices and opportunities for healthy living.

Public Health encourages community organizations, local governments and school districts in the same community to work together to submit proposals that are linked to each other. We are particularly interested in getting proposals from focus communities that bear disproportionate burdens of obesity and tobacco use. At least half of the RFP funds will go to these focus communities, which are Auburn, Burien, Covington, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Tukwila, SeaTac, White Center, and Seattle neighborhoods Beacon/Southeast Seattle, Capitol Hill, Central/Downtown Seattle and Delridge.

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of intent prior to applying for funds. Letters will be due April 14th. For more information, visit here.

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