The Tobacco Free Zone has a mini Grant Opportunity of Up to $35,000

Jack Eves: [00:00:00] X 1 0 1, always classic Jack here in the studio. And joining me today is Jennifer Hamilton, who is the Community Engagement Lead Coordinator for Tobacco Free Zone for Cortland, Tompkins and Chenango Counties. Good afternoon, Jen. How are you?

Jennifer Hamilton: Hi, Jack. I’m doing well today.

Jack Eves: Always good to see you and speak with you today.

And some big news through the Corland County Health Department and the tobacco free Program of Cortland, Tompkins and Shenango Counties is a mini grant funding opportunity. Is that right?

Jennifer Hamilton: That’s correct. Yes. We’re pretty excited to look to partner with local community based organizations, grassroots groups that would serve people in, in our community that tend to have higher tobacco use rates.

Jack Eves: Okay.

Jennifer Hamilton: We have up to $35,000 that. That we’re looking to provide to our local community-based organizations.

Jack Eves: And, that $35,000, especially for non-profit, and especially for grassroots organizations, that can go a long way, especially when you’re looking at those who are most [00:01:00] impacted by smoke use, which we discussed before coming on air, which, includes, lower maybe moderate income families, apartment areas and all that, right?

Jennifer Hamilton: That’s correct. We’ve done a really good job in reducing. Smoking rates among adults and youth. Mm-hmm. We still have populations that are still pretty high when it comes to smoking rates. And like you mentioned, the lower incomes, those that live with mental illness, those with disabilities, those with substance use disorders, it’s really aimed to help those communities that need it the most.

Jack Eves: Yes. And, those communities need it the most. Some of these. Opportunities too, could be simple steps as promoting a smoke-free environment or, just education too, know the risk factors of using tobacco products or vape products. And, even, looking at the sales and marketing that tobacco companies and.

Vape product companies now use towards, tar specifically targeting, [00:02:00] these demographics of people.

Jennifer Hamilton: Yeah, absolutely. Jack, the industry, they’re still in business, right? Yeah. And we know how harmful and deadly these products are, and they still are relentless in targeting. Those communities to be addicted to their, to their products, to continue to use their products.

This funding is meant to help prevent some of that.

Jack Eves: That’s really good to hear. And obviously, for those organizations or grassroots campaigns interested, they can always go online@cortlandcountyny.gov. I believe that’s where they can, click the bid and request for proposal section where the information will be there too.

Those who are interested in. This up to $35,000 mini-grant funding opportunity. When can they expect to hear back?

Jennifer Hamilton: So we, the deadline for the applications is December 18th. Okay. And our team, at the health department for the Tobacco Free Zone program, we’ll review those applications and we should have an answer [00:03:00] in mid-January.

And the activities that would take place with this mini-grant funding would occur from February 1st. Through the end of April of 2026.

Jack Eves: Okay. That’s wonderful to hear. And adding on to, the New York State Tobacco Control Program, I also gotta add in a quick congratulations. 25 years. That’s impressive.

Jennifer Hamilton: Silver. Silver Anniversary. Silver

Jack Eves: anniversary or the Jubilee is what you can call it, right? Jubilee. Yes.

Jennifer Hamilton: Yes. 25 years of the State tobacco control program and the Cortland County Health Department has. Been a grant partner of that program for all of those 25 years.

Jack Eves: That’s amazing to see. And obviously during Thursday’s Courtland County legislative session, you’re also presented with a proclamation from, legislature, Doug Bentley as well.

Jennifer Hamilton: Yes. We were really touched to have, Doug Bentley, legislator present us with that proclamation. Doug was, doug was with us at the very [00:04:00] beginning of our tobacco free Courtland program and sat on our coalition. So it was, it was really nice to have him there to present that. It’s good touching 25 years later.

Jack Eves: Yes, yes, definitely. And obviously, tobacco free Courtland with the TZ with the T free zone.net too. That’s a great website if you’re ever interested in learning more information about the program too. Jen, is there anything else you want to add?

Jennifer Hamilton: I would just add, please, take a look at, the application for anyone, that fits this category that we’ve been talking about.

Head to the Cortland County website, download it, take a look at it. And then you can also look at our t free zone.net website to get a little bit more, awareness of some of those activities that would. Fit, with this mini grant opportunity.

Jack Eves: Perfect. Jen, thank you so much for taking time outta your day.

Always love talking to you.

Jennifer Hamilton: Thank you. Thank you, Jack. Love talking to you too.

Jack Eves: All right, for X 1 0 1, I’m Jack Eves.