grants

grants AT WORK

Read about how grants are improving communities across the state:

Healthier, Smoke-Free Communities a...

We need our community more now than ever. From a global pandemic, to the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, to increasing rates of chronic disease, we must work together to address some of the issues that ha...

Let’s Talk About The Health Equity ...

My skin color affects everything about my livelihood, even my quality of life and health status, just as it does for people who look like me. See what I mean here. Yeah, that “elephant.” People experi...

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Lots of people start off a new year with a resolution to eat healthier. We’re no different, only LHCC is helping the whole state do that by putting our money where our mouths are by awarding more than...

Need A Little Seed Money?

One way to help communities become healthier is through a little “seed” money, as small investments can lead to big changes.

Mini Grant Image^ 2020 LHCC Mini-Grantee Market Umbrella/ Crescent City Farmers Market adapted their market operations to include safe home delivery of local produce during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo taken by Katie Sikora Photography.
 
The Louisiana Healthy Communities Coalition (LHCC) mission is to improve Louisianans' health and quality of life by mobilizing communities through implementing policy, systems and environmental (PSE) changes in order to build healthy communities. While Louisiana is a state with a complex array of health needs, obesity and tobacco are two of the biggest causes of chronic disease across the state. LHCC also has a commitment to address health equity in Louisiana and to address the social determinants of health as these are essential to creating a healthier Louisiana for all.  Louisiana has a diverse population and as such has a variety of groups that have poorer outcomes and decreased quality of life-related to obesity and smoking, including but not limited to:  rural populations as compared to urban and suburban; low-income populations, racial and ethnic groups such as African American and Latinx as compared to white; and LGBTQ+ as compared to cisgender straight. The LHCC recognizes that these communities need funding to address their obesity and tobacco-related issues.

LHCC is looking for innovative projects that will have a positive impact on the public good and health disparities.  For more information and examples of PSE projects, please check out this link Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change
 

Policy & System Change

Definition: Policy and system change often work together to change processes or rules of an organization, institution, or system.

Examples*:

  • Healthy food retail initiatives at corner stores, farmers markets, schools, or other sites to encourage consumer fruit and vegetable purchasing.
  • Expand the reach of farmers markets by accepting SNAP benefits/ food stamps and/or encouraging farmers to grow fruits and vegetables. 
  • Establish or expand a Farm to School Program by establishing healthier food procurement to serve farm fresh, locally grown produce in schools or early childcare centers.
  • Implement a client choice model at a local food pantry.
  • Smoke free park policies to prevent tobacco use 
  • School vaping policies with alternatives to suspension 

Environmental Change

Definition: Physically changing the environment. Environmental changes are best implemented when backed by a policy.

Examples*: 
  • Infrastructure to support storage (refrigerators, freezers) or distribution (transportation costs) of fresh or frozen produce for a local food pantry or other community organization. (Organization should also consider adopting a policy to stock fresh or frozen produce.)
  • Start or expand a community garden. (Organization should also consider adopting a policy to ensure maintenance of space and uses for produce grown from the garden.) 
  • Plant fruit trees or create a fruit orchard in public spaces. (Organization should also consider adopting a policy to ensure maintenance of space and uses for produce grown from orchard.)
Many PSE changes include combinations of policy, systems and environmental change. To learn more about PSE change, visit Action4PSEchange.org

*This list is not comprehensive of all fundable projects. LHCC Community Grant funds CANNOT be used to purchase food.

As part of building a healthy community, Grantees will be connected to resources to help them implement a tobacco-free policy at their proposed project site should that site not have tobacco-free policy.

TO APPLY:

The 2022-2023 Community Grants are now closed. Awards will be announced in December 2022. Please stay connected via social media and our website for updates and announcements.

 

Important Dates

Action Item

October 10th - November 11th, 2022

Applications for the 2022-2023 Community Grants are now closed.

October 26, 2022 at 11 am

Grant information session.


No later than December 2022

All award notifications distributed.

No later than December 2022

Funds will be distributed by this date.

May 31, 2023

Projects must be complete.

Basic FAQ

How many applications will be funded?
We anticipate funding at least 5 applications.  

How do I apply for a Community grant? 
The 2022-2023 Community Grants are now closed. Awards will be announced in December 2022. Please stay connected via social media and our website for updates and announcements.
 
What are past examples of funded projects? 
Check out this farmers market project we funded in Central Louisiana. For a list of other ideas, please see the top of this webpage.
 
Who is eligible to apply for a LHCC Community Grant?
Eligible organizations include non-profits (with 501c3 status), government entities (e.g. village, town, city, or parish governments), universities, schools, and other community-based organizations (e.g. community health centers, FQHCs, or churches). This Community grant does not fund individuals, but they are welcome to partner with an eligible organization. 
 
What is a PSE change?
Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) changes are the "upstream" factors that can improve our health. You can visit Action4PSEchange.org to take the course "Action for Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change: A Training” and learn more. For our 2020-2021 Community Grants, we’ve provided examples of fundable PSE projects at the top of this webpage. 
 
Can this funding be used for continuation or expansion of existing projects (even from prior years)?
Yes. However, applications that are copy and pasted from the previous year's application will be disqualified. 
 
Our grant application was not funded previously. Can we apply for this cycle?
Yes, complete a new application for consideration this Community grant cycle.
 
Are there any restrictions associated with this grant?
Yes, we have restrictions on what funds can be used for and eligible organization. Click here for all LHCC Community Grant restrictions.
 
How will my application be scored?
Your grant application will be scored on the following aspects:
  • Completeness of application
  • Innovation
  • Partnership building (including non-traditional partners outside of your sector and with local coalition)
  • Alignment with LHCC vision and mission
  • Community need for project 
  • Organizational capacity to execute project
  • Degree that proposal aligns with policy, system, or environmental change 
  • Intervention’s impact on the public related to obesity or tobacco
  • Impact on health disparities, health equity, and social determinants of health
  • Sustainability of project beyond Community grant funding
  • Environmental friendliness

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