Tobacco Grant Program FY 2025-26 Request for Proposals

Purpose

The purpose of this grant offered through the Office of the Attorney General, California Department of Justice (DOJ) Tobacco Grant Program is to promote a healthier California by reducing illegal sales and marketing of cigarettes and tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to minors and youth.

Description

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/ 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/youth FUNDING AMOUNTS Funding amounts will be evaluated based on the submitted grant proposal. PROJECT PERIOD Selected public agencies will be funded for 24 or 36 months. Projects must start between November 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026, and terminate on or before June 30, 2029. METHOD OF APPLICATION Applications must use DOJ’s online web-based form and be 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) PRE-APPLICATION WEBINAR We highly encourage all applicants to register for the pre-application webinar to be held on April 30, 2025, 10:00-11:00 AM (Pacific) via Zoom. The webinar will be recorded/uploaded to the DOJ Tobacco Grant Program webpage. PROGRAM INFORMATION To learn more about this funding opportunity, sign up for the pre-application webinar, or view related information, and please visit the DOJ Tobacco Grant Program webpage. QUESTIONS Email TobaccoGrantRFP@doj.ca.gov with any questions regarding the application process. MAILING LIST Subscribe to DOJ's Grant Opportunities mailing list to stay informed about this and other DOJ grant opportunities. Keywords: tobacco, retail, flavored tobacco, vape, vaping, flavor ban, law enforcement, consumer protection, prosecution, inspections, decoy operations, shoulder tap, undercover operations, retailer education, retailer diversion, task forces, illegal sales, online sales, marketing, minors, youth, Prop 56