Community Corner

Tobacco Settlement Grants Available

Local non-profits and agencies that offer health-related services to Napa County residents will be able to apply for 2014-2015 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreementgrants when the annual process begins in October.
The Napa County Health and Human Services Agency, which administers the grant program on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, will host a mandatory information session on Friday, Oct. 11, 2013, from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Building K conference room at 2261 Elm Street in Napa. All prospective applicant agencies must have a representative in attendance at this meeting in order for their applications to be considered for funding.  Pre-applications will be due on Nov. 8

            Last year’s process resulted in grants of more than $1 million to 16 programs. More than $11 million has been awarded since the Board of Supervisors began the program in 2001.

At the Oct. 11 meeting, staff will distribute application materials for fiscal year 2014-2015, provide information on the grant application process and timeline, and answer questions from prospective applicants. Beginning the same day, all application materials will be available on Napa County’s MSA Grant webpage at www.countyofnapa.org/hhs/tobaccoMSA.

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The MSA Grant application process is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or local government agencies seeking funding for projects in five broad categories: health and wellness; alcohol, tobacco and drugs; mental health; youth development; and programs that provide basic social safety net needs (food, shelter, or economic self sufficiency). Other minimum qualifications are described in the application materials and will be discussed at the Oct. 11 meeting.

The annual grant process distributes into the community a portion of the funds the County receives as a result of the 1999 nationwide settlement the federal government reached with large tobacco companies, intended to offset the community cost of dealing with the health effects of smoking. The Board awards up to 10 percent of the value of that fund each year through a competitive grant process.

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Beginning with the fiscal year 2006-2007 funding cycle, the Board assigned responsibility for administration of the MSA Grant funding process to the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). 

 


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