Colorado State Archives

Executive Orders from the Administration of Governor Bill Owens 1999-2005

OWENS ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $600,000 IN TOBACCO EDUCATION PREVENTION GRANTS AWARDED TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Grants awarded to El Paso, Larimer, La Plata and Archuleta Counties

DENVER – Gov. Bill Owens today announced that more than $614,896 in tobacco education prevention grants has been awarded to four Colorado communities: El Paso, Larimer, La Plata, and Archuleta Counties.

"These grants will help provide needed services in these areas," said Gov. Owens. "I am pleased the state will be able to assist these local communities with tobacco prevention education and training."

The money for the grants comes from the $11.6 million in tobacco settlement funds allocated to the State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership (STEPP) which is based out of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Legislation passed during the 2000 Legislative Session (SB 71) created a Tobacco Program Fund that provides a percentage every year from the total settlement that goes towards tobacco education and prevention cessation programs.

These are the first tobacco education and prevention grants to be awarded to local health agencies from Colorado’s tobacco settlement monies. Recipients of the initial grants are:

• El Paso County Health Department, Colorado Springs, $325,000. This grant will be used to expand the department’s smoking education, cessation and prevention efforts.
  
• San Juan Basin Health Department, Durango, $99,992. This grant will be used to expand the smoking cessation and prevention efforts in Durango and to establish new programs to serve all of La Plata County and Pagosa Springs in Archuleta County.
  
• Larimer County Health Department, Fort Collins, $189,904. This grant will be used to expand the existing smoking education, cessation and prevention efforts from Fort Collins to other parts of the county.

An additional $1 million in grants is expected to be awarded by the end of October to expand other local existing programs. Local health agencies apply for the grants with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment where a committee reviews the applications.

The remaining approximate $10 million will be distributed later in the year based on guidelines and priorities to be established by a citizen advisory board now being appointed by Jane E. Norton, the State Health Department’s executive director. These funds will be used to establish comprehensive tobacco-related education, prevention and cessation programs throughout the state.

Archives Homepage |  State Homepage | Department Homepage