HHS awards $372 million in health-related grants

HHS has awarded $372 million in grants to 44 communities to help reduce obesity and smoking, increase physical activity and improve nutrition. Funded by last year's stimulus bill, the awards are part of the Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative.

“This is an unprecedented level of commitment to prevention,” first lady Michelle Obama said in an announcement from HHS. “Investing in local communities will build a healthier American, and we aim to reach more than 50 million people who are living in communities receiving these awards. Earlier this year, Obama introduced “Let’s Move,” a nationwide campaign to end childhood obesity.

Of the communities receiving the awards, 23 communities have received grants for obesity prevention; 14 for tobacco cessation; and seven others for both obesity and tobacco cessation. According to HHS, the awards vary in size, with the average grant being about $17.3 million for each large city grantee; $7.7 million to urban areas; $4.7 million to small cities or rural areas; and $1.3 million to tribes. State health departments in nine states will administer the small city and rural awards, which will be provided to 16 rural communities.

In early February, HHS released more than $119 million in awards to states and U.S. territories for policy and environmental changes at the state level.

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