Tobacco Grant Program

About

The California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 (Proposition 56) funding helps promote a healthier California by reducing illegal retail sales and marketing of cigarettes and tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to minors. The Tobacco Grant Program, administered by the Office of the Attorney General, makes these annual funds available to local law enforcement agencies throughout California. Since its inception in 2017, the Tobacco Grant Program has distributed approximately $184.7 million in grant funding through a competitive process.

Apply for Funding

DEADLINE TO APPLY

The grant opportunity will be open for submissions on April 29, 2024 and submissions must be received by 11:59 PM (Pacific) on June 28, 2024.

PRE-APPLICATION WEBINAR

We highly encourage all applicants to register for the pre-application webinar to be held on May 9, 2024, 10:30-11:30 AM (Pacific) via Zoom. The webinar will be recorded and uploaded to the Tobacco Grant Program webpage.

KEY DOCUMENTS

To facilitate understanding of the Tobacco Grant Program and complete your application, please review the following documents:

• Tobacco Grant Factsheet, pdf
• Request for Proposals, pdf
• Grant Handbook, pdf
• Budget Detail Sheet, xlsx

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Any local public agency within the State of California that has authority to enforce tobacco-related state laws or local ordinances related to retail tobacco sales and marketing is eligible to apply. This may include police and sheriffs’ departments, district and city attorneys and county counsels, public health departments, cities, counties, and public school/college districts.

Grantees may use grant funds for activities including, but not limited to:

• Enforcement of flavor ban laws/ordinances
• Retailer compliance and licensing checks
• Consumer protection investigation and enforcement actions
• Illegal online sales and marketing, including use of door-to-door delivery services
• Development of task forces (regional working groups) for enforcement operations
• Retailer training and diversion programs

FUNDING

An estimated $28.5 million in grant funding is available this year to support local enforcement efforts to reduce illegal retail sales and marketing of tobacco products to minors and youth.

The Tobacco Grant Program is a reimbursement grant. DOJ will reimburse selected public agencies, in arrears, for approved expenditures upon receipt of invoices, quarterly progress reports, and other enforcement data required.

PROJECT PERIOD

Selected public agencies will be funded for 24 or 36 months. Projects are expected to begin on or about November 1, 2024 and must terminate on or before June 30, 2028.

METHOD OF APPLICATION

Applications must be prepared using DOJ’s online web-based application form and submitted with all required attachments.

PROPOSAL COMPONENTS

A grant application requires submission of the following major components:

• Completed proposal (online web form)
• Completed budget detail (MS Excel)
• Letter(s) of commitment (required if partnering or contracting with another agency to complete a portion of the grant objectives)

Funding Priorities

DOJ’s Tobacco Grant Program application process is highly competitive. In accordance with Proposition 56, funds will be awarded to applicants demonstrating strong capacity to support and/or hire enforcement officers for activities specifically aimed at reducing the illegal retail sales and/or marketing of tobacco products to minors and youth.

PRIORITY ACTIVITIES CONSIDERED

Priority activities include, but are not limited to:

• Enforcing state tobacco laws and local ordinances, including the statewide flavor ban (and similar local ordinances) through retailer inspections and enforcement operations (e.g. minor decoy, shoulder tap, undercover buys in stores and online)
• Consumer protection enforcement (investigations and prosecution)
• Compliance checks and inspections of tobacco retailers and online services that deliver tobacco products
• Task force coordination among local agencies
• Retailer education and diversion for retailers violating state tobacco laws
• Education for enforcement officers regarding state tobacco laws and local ordinances

ACTIVITIES NOT CONSIDERED IN THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Activities that will NOT be considered within this funding opportunity include, but are not limited to:

• School and community-based enforcement of tobacco possession and use, including School Resource Officers and purchase/use of vape detectors
• School and community-based education (including media campaigns)
• Other activities insufficiently related to reducing the illegal retail sales and/or marketing of tobacco products to minors and youth

Application and Award Timelines

Milestone	Date
Release of Request for Proposals	April 29, 2024
Pre-Application Webinar	May 9, 2024
Deadline to Submit Proposal	June 28, 2024

Milestone	Approximate Date
Award Selection	October-November 2024
Earliest Project Start	November 2024
Grant Opening Documents Due	End of January 2024

More Information

QUESTIONS

Email TobaccoGrantRFP@doj.ca.gov with any questions regarding the application process.