Working on Wellness Environments
Working on Wellness Environments (WOW-E) is a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension multidisciplinary community development program

Grant Opportunity: Texas Local Food Purchase Assistance

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TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE – COMMISSIONER SID MILLER

Application Now Available – Texas Local Food Purchase Assistance Program Due: Thursday, August 11, 2022 by 11:59 PM Central Time.  The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is administering the Texas Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (TxLFPA).

The purpose of the program is to maintain and improve Texas’ food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. The goal of this program is to foster in-state, long-term relationships and build sustainable market opportunities for State of Texas producers, with an emphasis on supporting local or regional and socially disadvantaged producers to increase the amount of products distributed to underserved communities in the State of Texas. In addition, TDA aims to tailor food distribution for unique local challenges to serve the State’s population and feeding programs, including food banks and other organizations that target underserved communities. The 2022 Application must be completed online. Original/Paper applications will not be accepted. Please DO NOT e-mail, mail or deliver applications in person to the TDA Headquarters in Austin. Please contact us via email at Grants@TexasAgriculture.gov with questions. Additional details, instructions and the application materials can be found here. 

Sincerely, 
Grants Office Trade & Business Development  

If the link above does not work, please copy and paste this link in your internet browser: https://texasagriculture.gov/GrantsServices/GrantsandServices/TexasLocalFoodPurchaseAssistance.aspx

Texas Parks & Wildlife CO-OP Grant Writing Workshops

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The Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) will begin accepting applications for programming that engages under-represented audiences in TPWD mission-oriented outdoor recreation, conservation, and environmental education activities on August 1st, 2022.  Target audience demographics include low income, female, racial minority, and individuals with disabilities.  Grant funding can support personnel, training, travel, food, fees, and supplies.  This grant does not support construction and no sponsor contribution or match is required.  

CO-OP staff will host a series of Grant Writing Workshops to cover all the elements needed for a competitive project application. Offered both online and at sites around the state, the workshop will provide application support and assist potential applicants with grant program requirements and priorities, an overview of the application process, review the new scoring criteria, help with budget planning and eligible grant expenses, and answer questions from applicants.   

To attend at workshop, complete the online registration at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BA5AD2DA1F5C16-community 

June 289:00am to 12:00pm Amarillo Parks and Recreation/ City Hall, Amarillo, TX 
July 281:00pm to 4:00pm ONLINE/ LIVE WORKSHOP 
August 2 9:00am to 12:30pm Franklin Mountains State Park, El Paso, TX 
August 249:30am to 12:30pm The Witte Museum, San Antonio, TX 
August 319:00am to 12:30pm Tyler State Park, Tyler, TX 
September 139:00am to 12:30pm Bentsen Rio Grande State Park, Mission, TX 
October 41:00pm to 4:00pm ONLINE/ LIVE WORKSHOP 

For additional information, contact grant staff or visit the CO-OP website. 

New Grant Opportunity: Texas Parks & Wildlife Local Parks Grants

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Applications Now Open for 2023 Local Parks Grants

The Local Parks Grant Program is now accepting applications to assist local units of government with the acquisition and/or development of public recreation areas and facilities throughout the State of Texas. The Program provides 50% matching grants on a reimbursement basis to eligible applicants. All fund-assisted sites must be dedicated as parkland in perpetuity, properly maintained, and open to the public.  Funding for these programs comes from a portion of the state sales tax on sporting goods through the Texas Recreation & Parks Account and the Texas Large County & Municipality Recreation & Parks Account. Additional funds come from federal offshore oil and gas royalties through the Land & Water Conservation Fund.    

Eligible applicants include political subdivisions of the State of Texas legally responsible for providing public recreation services to their citizens. This includes cities, counties, river authorities, municipal utility districts, and most other special districts.

Applications are available now via the Recreation Grants Online 2020 system through 5:00 PM CST on August 1, 2022. Funding recommendations will be presented to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, who makes final decisions regarding awards of program funds, in January of 2023. If you have questions regarding the Local Parks Grant Program please contact the Local Park Grants team or our office at rec.grants@tpwd.texas.gov or at (512) 389-8224.

Community Challenge 2022

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The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Working on Wellness Environments program is kicking off the 2022 WOW-E Community Challenge, an initiative for local leaders to pilot test community efforts utilizing policy, system, and environmental changes. We encourage you to attend an CC22 Action Institute and to submit an application for demonstrations to pilot test projects to assist your community in promoting increased physical activity levels and improved access to healthy foods. These projects must be steps toward building and/or strengthening larger system, environmental plans, policy changes, etc. Technical assistance and support will be awarded to up to 15 applicants from Hudspeth, Maverick, Starr, Webb, and Zapata to implement their demonstration projects.  

Click Here to Visit the Community Challenge 2022 Webpage

Pilot-testing Walkability from local Middle School to the Park

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In collaboration with Rio Grande City Parks and Recreation and Working on Wellness Environments, RGCCISD Veterans Middle School Student Council worked to pilot-test walkability between their middle school and Miriam Vale Park. This area currently lacks some sidewalks, crosswalks, and walkways. Rio Grande City Parks and Recreation applied for a WOW-E Community Challenge to pilot-test the infrastructure. Pilot-testing occurred for one week. The Parks Department is currently Working with WOW-E Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to develop design concepts for more permanent changes.

“I know parents have been calling in regards to the sidewalks. Following this project, kids have already told me they feel safer.”

Frank Eguia
Rio Grande City Parks and Recreation Director