04
Jun
2012
Nationally, $70 Million available for Harkin's Community Transformation Grants
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today encouraged eligible Iowa organizations to apply for funding made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for community-based prevention initiatives. Earlier today, HHS announced the availability of $70 million in funding for Community Transformation Grants (CTG) program - a portion of the $226 million initiative.Harkin created the Prevention Fund as the author of the prevention and wellness provisions of the Affordable Care Act. He is Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Appropriations subcommittee that funds HHS.
"Prevention begins in the community and Community Transformation Grants enable localities to tailor wellness and prevention programs to their specific needs and environment," said Harkin. "I encourage all eligible organizations to take advantage of this opportunity and apply for a grant to ensure that all Iowans have access to resources to help them live healthier lifestyles."
The Community Transformation Grant program supports State and local governmental agencies and community-based organizations in the implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based community health activities in order to reduce chronic disease rates, prevent the development of secondary conditions, address health disparities, and develop a stronger evidence-base of effective prevention programming. The Iowa Department of Public Health received $3 million in Fiscal Year 2011 to conduct statewide efforts. The competitive funding announced today is targeted specifically for communities.
The long-term objectives of the Community Transformation Grant Program include :
· Reducing death and disability due to tobacco use by 5 percent among the target population;
· Reducing the rate of obesity through nutrition and physical activity interventions by 5 percent in the implementation area;
· And reducing death and disability due to heart disease and stroke by 5 percent in the implementation area.
The official funding opportunity announcement for the Community Transformation Grants will be available today after 11:00 AM ET by visiting www.Grants.gov.
