Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Local agencies' efforts to raise awareness about tobacco use may get a financial boost from the state.

The Colorado State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership, or STEPP, is offering grants up to $5,000 to nonprofit organizations and local government programs in Routt County.

The Community Partnership mini-grants must fund activities related to tobacco cessation and education, such as Kick Butts Day next April, World No Tobacco Day next May, Sports Initiatives, Smokeless Sundays and the Smoke-Free Home Pledge Initiative.

STEPP will consider grant applications only through Oct. 7, so applicants should return paperwork as soon as possible.

Grant applications are available from the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association at the Medical Office Building of Yampa Valley Medical Center.

STEPP aims to increase community-based organizations' participation in tobacco education, prevention and cessation activities and make those activities a part of organizations' overall goals and objectives.

Organizations that are not already involved in education, prevention and cessation activities are invited to participate.

Public and private schools in Routt County can also apply for grants through a separate process. Local health departments, county nursing services and current recipients of STEPP Community Partnership funding cannot apply.

The Routt County Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership encourages applications from all community-based nonprofit organizations in the county that meet the needs of youth, family and faith-based, racial or ethnic communities.

Interested parties can get more information about grants or separate grant initiatives for schools by calling Judy Hiester, coordinator for the Routt County Tobacco Program, at 879-1632.