McNamara, O’Brien: Grants available to address local health challenges

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STATEHOUSE (Feb. 28, 2022) –  State Reps. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville) and Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville) said they are looking forward to local communities tackling health challenges like diabetes and obesity through a new state grant they helped create.

In 2021, McNamara and O’Brien supported a law creating the Indiana Health Issues and Challenges Grants, which will award $50 million to local and statewide service providers, and planning organizations to address longstanding problems.

Now, the Indiana Department of Health is accepting grant applications, and McNamara said she hopes local providers like health departments, municipalities and nonprofit organizations apply.

“Hoosiers are affected by many chronic health issues, which vary from county to county,” McNamara said. “This grant program is designed to meet the needs of local communities, bettering the health and safety for everyone.”

Funding can be used to prevent or reduce mental and physical health issues for Hoosiers, including in the areas of tobacco use, food insecurity, obesity, lead exposure, hepatitis C, and chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma and cancer.

Applications for Indiana Health Issues and Challenges Grants are due by March 31, 2022, with award notices issued by the Indiana Department of Health by July 1, 2022.

“The Health Issues and Challenges Grants help support the health of our local communities,” O’Brien said. “Now is the time to apply for this amazing opportunity for service providers.”