Request for Proposals: Municipal Wellness and Leadership Projects for Non- Mass in Motion Communities

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1 Request for Proposals: Municipal Wellness and Leadership Projects for Non- Mass in Motion Communities Background and Purpose: The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) is pleased to announce the availability of funding to support projects to implement policy, systems and environmental change strategies in municipalities not currently receiving Mass in Motion funding from MDPH or one of it s private funding partners. In alignment with the Mass in Motion Municipal Wellness and Leadership program, these mini-grants will increase opportunities for active living and healthy eating by creating conditions that support and reinforce healthy behaviors. Grantees will use the funds to transform where their residents live, work, play and go to school so that they can lead healthier, more productive lives. Interventions will focus on healthy eating, active living, and promotion of healthy and safe physical environments. This funding will provide between 10 to 12 grant awards of approximately $7,500 to $10,000 that must be spent by June 30, Applicants must be a municipality. Program Criteria: Grantees must implement policy, systems and environmental change strategies aimed at creating conditions to support and reinforce healthy behaviors for people of all ages and abilities. Examples include: Assess feasibility of implementing a local healthy market or healthy dining program that promotes access to healthier food and beverages (fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain products, lower sodium options, water and low fat dairy); Assess feasibility of implementing an incentive or recognition program to encourage grocery stores and convenience stores to reduce point-of-sale marketing of calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods; Assess barriers to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) use at farmers markets and develop a plan to mitigate these barriers; Develop nutritional standards and guidelines for use at food pantries and meal sites

2 Develop plan to increase access to plain water in municipally operated outdoor areas and facilities Develop a plan to reduce advertising and marketing of calorie-dense, nutrientpoor foods and beverages near school grounds and public places frequently visited by youth; Develop a land use policy/zoning regulation to promote, expand, and protect potential sites for community gardens and farmers markets, such as vacant municipal-owned land or unused parking lots, particularly in underrepresented communities/neighborhoods; Develop and implement a joint use agreement to make community facilities available for recreational use by children, adults and families; Assess walking conditions around local schools and develop recommendations for improving the built environment to support daily walking and biking to school. Develop a safe routes to school program that focuses on daily behavior and includes mode shift goals; Develop health focused language (with measurable goals and objectives) to be inserted into municipal plans such as comprehensive/master plans, open space plans, etc; Conduct a health-based zoning/ordinance/regulation reviews that assess barriers to active transportation, public transit access, access to healthy food and access to green/open space Develop active design standards/guidelines for use with all new development projects Establish and/or implement a local complete streets policy that includes measurable goals and objectives Establish community protocols (including use of Health Impact Assessments) to assess impact of built environment related changes on community health and well being Priority will be given to a geographically/socio-demographically diverse range of projects. Priority will also be given to projects that apply a health equity lens to local efforts. This means focusing on populations and/or areas disproportionately at risk for overweight, obesity, chronic disease and related negative health outcomes when selecting strategies and engaging partners.

3 Communities that are recipients of funds with synergistic activities (such as the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund, bike/ped safety projects through the Mass Highway Safety Plan, etc.) should demonstrate how activities under this proposal would complement or enhance those projects. Grantee Expectations: Grantees will be required to complete a final report on grant activities and outcomes as well as define steps to implement and sustain activities after the grant ends. Final reports are anticipated to be due in July MAPC, in coordination with MDPH, will conduct periodic check-ins with grantees to discuss grant progress, identify potential barriers and opportunities, and provide technical assistance and data support. Grantees will participate in short conferences/meetings to present on their activities to MDPH, MAPC and other interested parties. Opportunities for peer networking and sharing may also be scheduled. Application Instructions: Responses to this RFP should include the following and should not exceed 3 pages (not including the budget) 12-font: Municipality: Municipal Contact Person: name, department, address, telephone and ; Brief description of proposed initiative and any experience your city or town has in implementing community-based healthy eating/active living activities; A short description of need in your community and explanation of how the proposed grant activities will address that need; A list of key partners you would engage upon receiving funding, the role you expect each person to play, and any prior experience the lead agency has in working with these partners; A short work plan proposal (no more than ten milestone activities and corresponding dates) describing how you would implement proposed activities; Budget: Anticipated budget for proposed project with brief budget justification The budget period is 3/1/15-6/30/15. A letter of support from any municipal departments or agencies essential to implementing grant activities.

4 Funds may be used for: Staff time Fringe Payroll taxes Program supplies In-state travel Contractual costs Administrative/overhead/indirect costs Utilities Community Engagement and Promotional Materials Funds may not be used for: Food expenses outside of food for meetings Equipment (ex. computers, laptops, cell phones, furniture, construction equipment, playground equipment, gym equipment, etc.) Gift cards/coupons/vouchers Litigation and/or for directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office Supplanting existing public funding Support for programmatic /direct service activities such as health education or recreational programs Application Deadline and/or Questions: The application is due on February 13, 2015 by 5:00 pm. an electronic version of the application (in PDF or Microsoft Word format) to Lola Omolodun of MAPC at Questions are welcome; please or call ( ) Lola Omolodun. Award Announcements will be made before February 27, 2015.

5 Project Duration: The project period will be March 1, 2015 through June 30, All costs of project contractors must be incurred during that time period.