092-HIGC-26 Q&A

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What is the TSET Healthy Incentive Grant for Communities?

The TSET Healthy Incentive Grant for Communities are designed to help cities and towns adopt and implement best and promising practices for tobacco-free city property, access to healthy and nutritious foods, and physical activity for the benefit of the whole community.

Who is eligible to apply for the TSET Healthy Incentive Grant for Communities?

Any incorporated city/town/municipality in the state of Oklahoma that meets grant criteria may apply. Grant criteria may be found in the Resource Guide at ok.gov/tset/hig-c.

Are non-profit organizations that assist communities eligible to apply for the TSET Healthy Incentive Grant for Communities?

No, this grant is only open to incorporated cities, towns, and municipalities in the state of Oklahoma. Please visit ok.gov/tset/funding-opportunities for additional TSET funding opportunities.

Who can apply on behalf of a Community?

Any administrators for the incorporated city/town/municipality including but not limited to: Mayor, City Manager, City Clerk, or Financial Officer.

My Community received funds prior to this fiscal grant year; are we eligible to apply for funding this year?

Yes, as long as the prior grant funding is closed out. Regardless of prior grant funding, all Oklahoma Communities will be eligible to apply.

Are Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels being used this year?

No, there is only one level of set criteria that must be met in order to be eligible for funding. Grant criteria may be found in the Resource Guide at ok.gov/tset/hig-c.

What is the maximum amount that a Community may apply for?

Funding amounts are based on community population. Community populations can be found at https://data.census.gov/.

For populations of 4,299 or less, the maximum funding amount is $60,000.
For populations of 4,300 or more, the maximum funding amount is $100,000.

How will I know if my application is/is not selected for funding?

All eligible applications will be presented to the TSET Board of Directors for funding consideration. Applicants will be notified of their award status within two (2) business days of the TSET Board of Directors meeting at which the applications are considered. Notification will be made via email to the authorized official listed on the application form.

How will my Community receive funds if selected?

Awarded applicants will have 60 days from notification of award to complete all required contract documents as indicated by TSET. Award payment will be made upon submission of all required contract documents.

How long does my Community have to expend the funds?

The grant period is one (1) year from the date of approval by the TSET Board of Directors.

What can funds be spent on?

Communities awarded grant funding will apply the funds for purchases, programs and/or projects that best address the needs and opportunities that improve the health of the community. This list is not exhaustive.
Suggested Use of Funds:
- Basketball, tennis, pickleball courts
- Bicycle lanes/bike racks
- Community gardens
- Engineer or architects’ services to develop plans
- Farmers’ market venues
- Lighting for parks and trails
- Outdoor physical activity equipment
- Playground equipment/improvements
- Street safe crosswalks (flashing lights, signs, etc.)
- Warm up stations for walking track/fitness trail
- Walking trails
*TSET reserves the right to approve, deny, or – with the awarded grantee – modify any proposed uses of TSET funds.

If my Community receives funds this fiscal year, can we apply again next fiscal year?

No. After FY26 all awarded grantees will only be eligible to receive funds from this grant once every three (3) fiscal grant years.

What documentation is required to apply?

Documentation of having met each criterion is required from the Community. Each application is reviewed based on specific criteria:
- Non-Acceptance of Tobacco Funds Certification Form from TSET
- Promotion of Shape Your Future
- Promotion of the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline
- Documentation of Worksite Wellness Policy and Initiatives
- City’s Tobacco-Free City-Owned Property Ordinance
- City’s Youth Access to Tobacco Ordinance
- Community Assessment of Food Retail Environment
- Resolution or Ordinance that Supports and Promotes Farmers’ Markets, Community Gardens, and/or Food Pantries
- Community Assessment of Landscape as it Relates to Active Living
- Resolution, Ordinance, or City Plan that Supports Active Living.
- Project Plan
- Project Budget
*Additional information about these criteria may be found in the Resource Guide at ok.gov/tset/hig-c.

What information is needed for my Project Plan?

Applicants are required to provide the Project Title, a brief description that could be used for summary publications, and a detailed project plan outlining all steps from start to finish for the proposed project. Applicants will also have to upload Project Plan documentation utilizing the Project Plan Template found in the Resource Guide.

What information is needed for my Project Budget?

Applicants are required to provide documentation of bids and/or cost estimates solicited or dated within three months prior to application submission AND complete and upload the Budget Justification form found in the Resource Guide.

I wanted to follow that question to request a sample resolution that satisfies the requirements of the requested below:

Resolution or Ordinance that Supports and Promotes Farmers’ Markets, Community Gardens and/or Food Pantries
Resolution, Ordinance or City Plan that Supports Active Living

Due to the numerous variations of resolutions and ordinances that can be passed by cities to support and promote these initiatives, we do not have specific samples to share. However, there are some tools that might be of help included within the Communities Resource Guide, Appendix I: Helpful Resources for Communities.

I would like to know if this grant would be available for us to put a playground on our church property?

No, this grant is only open to incorporated cities, towns, and municipalities in the state of Oklahoma. Please visit ok.gov/tset/funding-opportunities for additional TSET funding opportunities.

Im checking to see if this project would be eligible for funding. Would the cost on installation of playground equipment be eligible? If the playground equipment was purchased separately could this grant pay for install?

Yes, install of projects are an acceptable use of funds. Be sure to include bids and/or estimates to support the full budget requested amount.

I cannot locate the Attachments and Appendices. Where can they be found?

In order to view the Attachments and Appendices, you must first download the Healthy Incentive Grant for Communities Resource Guide and open in Adobe Reader. (Adobe Reader can be downloaded for free at https://get.adobe.com/reader/.) Next, you must click on the paperclip icon on the right hand side of the window. If you still cannot access the Attachments and Appendices, please let us know and we will send them to you.

Are third parties contracted by a city allowed to submit applications on the city's behalf? If so, do I enter the city's FEIN number or the EIN of my firm submitting the application?

A third party consultant is allowed to submit an application on behalf of the City. However, the submitting entity would be the city, therefore you would use the FEIN of the city, as it would be the designated grant recipient – not the third party contractor. If awarded, oversight and implementation of the project should not be delegated to a third-party contractor and should be administered directly by the applicant agency, as it would be the designated grant recipient. (Healthy Incentive Grant for Communities, Program Staffing, pages 2 &3)

Our downtown sidewalk is creating a walking hazard for members of our community that wish to visit the two businesses that are currently open. Students that would normally walk to school prefer to ride rather than walk the sidewalk. We would like to request funding to replace the old sidewalk, make it ADA compliant and safe for residents of the town. Is this a project that would be covered under TSET grant?

Yes, HIG Community funds can be used to install ADA compliant sidewalks. Keep in mind that the project scope of work must be completed and all funds spent within a year after funding is awarded.

Page 2, under public accessibility, discusses free public use but eludes that there can be exceptions. We have a public wellness center in which we charge a membership to cover operating costs. Are we completely disqualified or can there be exceptions? What type of exceptions might allow us to still apply?

The TSET funded portion of the project site must have the ability to be accessible to all Oklahomans, regardless of income. Public access of non-TSET funded portions of the project is up to the lead agency.

Our town recently renovated the kitchen in the community center to be safe to use. Can the funds be used to replace old appliances with new appliances and buy cookware, utensils, shelving, tables and chairs? This would allow us to have community dinners and activities in the restored community center.

The HIG awarded funds can be used to improve access to healthy and affordable food for the community. Purchasing items to support those initiatives for the Community Center, to include appliances, cookware, utensils, shelving, tables and chairs are all acceptable.

I see there is a funding limitation of staff stipends and staff time for fundraising events. However, can a portion of funds be used for grant writing or project manager expenses specific to work on the TSET grant?

Pertaining to the Healthy Incentive Grant, funds can not be spent on staff time for grant writing or project management. The funds awarded should be allocated to a project that directly impacts the community or for contracts to produce final plans to support future grant writing initiatives (e.g. Parks Master Plan, Safe Routes to School Plans, etc.)

Our city does not have any ordinances that supports and promotes farmers markets, community gardens, and food pantries or ordinances pertaining to Active Living. are these required to get the grant?

All grant criteria listed in the Resource Guide for the Healthy Incentive Grant must be met in order to be eligible for funding award.

Since HIG is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, I assume waiting until the latter part of the application period to submit is not ideal since we would be at the end of the line and there would be less likelihood of funding being available.

Theoretically, yes. Although it is not ideal to wait until the last few days to submit, all applications receive a good chance. It is perfectly fine to wait until the end of the application period to submit complete and thorough materials. All applications that are successfully submitted during the application period receive the same review process.

I know match is not required, but is there any competitive advantage to providing match?

Since this is a non-competitive grant, there isn’t an advantage to being awarded the funding by providing match.

Is a master plan for a city-owned park eligible for HIG funding?

Yes, cities can request HIG funds to cover master plans for parks.

Does TSET have an example of a community assessment of food and retail environment? How detailed does it need to be?

Appendix G: Helpful Resources for Communities has great resources to assist with the community assessment of food and retail environment requirement.

Can unincorporated townships apply for the grant?

No, unincorporated communities are not eligible to apply. TSET Healthy Incentive Grant for Communities criteria require that applicants be an incorporated city, town or municipality in Oklahoma.

Our City is interested in applying. We recently started a local farmers market with no budget or funds of any sort. We have less than 4,000 residents in our rural county. Just wanting to inquire if funding is allowed to hire and pay Farmer Market Managers, Project Managers and for education?

Healthy Incentive Grant funds are allowed to pay for educational materials, but cannot be used for staff time, stipends or pay.

95% of our park land, including the courts that would be resurfaced, are USACE land - but the City has a master lease agreement through March 31, 2071. Sometimes the question of ownership comes up in grants, but our exceptionally long lease has been deemed acceptable by other grant agencies. Will it be an issue for TSET?

The HIG Funds can only be spent on city-owned property, regardless of any other form of agreement. See specific information under 'Project Service Area' on page 6 of the Resource Guide. "The project area or property where the project will be located must be owned by the applicant at the time of submitting the grant application."

I was creating my budget in the provided excel template and I need additional lines in the "Other" category, but the sheet is protected and I cannot add the additional line. How should I proceed?

A summary or grouping of the other items you plan to purchase can be included on the excel template with reference to the bids which you upload to the application.

Would the purchase of a portable teaching kitchen/Charlie Cart and associated durable equipment be an allowable project expense under the FY27 HIG Communities grant if it is part of a larger community healthy-food education project?

Would the project be eligible if the City is the applicant and the Public Library serves as the primary community-programming partner?

If the library property is owned by the City, would use of the library as the project site satisfy the requirement that the project be located on property owned by the applicant?

Are there specific requirements regarding the ownership, storage, mobility or use of equipment purchased with HIG Communities funds?

What a fabulous idea and partnership. Regarding the TSET Healthy Incentive Grant for Communities, the purchase of the Charlie Cart would be an allowable expense. If the property for which the project will be housed (in this case, the library) is owned by the City than it will satisfy the requirement. There are no specific requirements regarding the storage of equipment. Programming should be free and available to the community at large. The equipment purchase and programming should take place within one year of the contract. Any use of the equipment beyond the one year grant period will be up to the city and it's partners.

Are tribal communities allowed to apply to these grants? Many municipalities are in tribal jurisdictions.

To be eligible for this grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:
• The applicant must be an incorporated city, town or municipality in Oklahoma, herein referred to as cities or communities.
• The applicant must be in good standing with the Oklahoma Secretary of State and the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
• The applicant must be able to attest that the organization does not and will not accept funding from the tobacco industry by submitting Attachment A: Certification of Non-Acceptance of Tobacco Funds.

Is an HOA eligible to apply directly for funding under the TSET Healthy Incentive Grants: Communities program?

Thank you for your questions concerning applying for a TSET HIG Community grant. A Homeowners Association is not an eligible organization to apply for this grant. Please refer to the FY27 Resource Guide page 5 & 6. To be eligible for this grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:
• The applicant must be an incorporated city, town or municipality in Oklahoma, herein referred to as cities or communities.
• The project area or property where the project will be located must be owned by the applicant at the time of submitting the grant application.

I'm wondering if the installation of a sprinkler system, planting grass and fruit trees and berry bushes on a preexisting walking trail would qualify for this grant. The grass would prevent erosion around the walking trail and keep dirt from washing onto the trail and the trees and bushes will provide the residents with free healthy food.

Thanks for reaching out, please refer to the TSET HIG Community FY27 Resource Guide under “Suggested Use of Funds” pgs12-13. These pages include several ideas, but it’s not an exhaustive list. Walking trails is one of the ideas and enhancing existing amenities which would increase use of existing sidewalks could be considered. Keep in mind that “the project area or property where the project will be located must be owned by the applicant at the time of submitting the grant application.” Resource Guide pg 6.

May the same individual be assigned as both the Project Manager and the Authorized Official?

We're excited that you are interested in applying for our TSET Healthy Incentive Grant for Communities and have received your question on our TSET Q&A. Yes, this can be the same person. We will just ask that you add an additional contact to the account if you are awarded the grant.