Tobacco-free Communities

Tobacco is a leading preventable cause of disease, disability and premature death in the world today. According to MaineHealth, over 17% of adults in Maine are smokers, and the incidence of tobacco related cancers in Maine is significantly higher than the U.S. rate.Seven Mainers die each day from a tobacco-related illness. One of the seven is a non-smoker, who dies because of exposure to secondhand smoke. 

Tobacco smoke has over 7,000 chemicals, including nicotine, which is highly addictive. Over 70 of them are known to cause cancer in people. Children are especially at risk from the dangers of secondhand smoke because their lungs are still growing. 

Many opportunities exist to build communities that support tobacco-free living, including raising awareness about the dangers of tobacco use, helping people to quit, and preventing exposure to secondhand smoke. Healthy Acadia is involved in multiple state and local initiatives building tobacco-free communities, including support for tobacco free policies in schools, hospitals,  worksites, restaurants, bars, and more.

Mini Grants

Maine State Law requires that every employer must have a written tobacco policy in the workplace. Healthy Acadia can provide technical assistance and resources to help draft your worksite tobacco policy. Additionally, if you are interested in reducing tobacco-use and increasing tobacco-free spaces in your work vicinity, we can provide technical assistance and support for such efforts.

Healthy Acadia is awarding mini-grants of up to $1,000 to support community partners in Hancock and Washington counties to create smoke-free and tobacco-free policies. 

Who Can Apply?

Businesses and organizations that participate in the development, adoption, and implementation of new smoke-free or tobacco-free policies, including 1) those that do not have an existing tobacco-free/smoke-free policy; and 2) those that already have a tobacco-free/smoke-free policy that would benefit from review, recommendations and updates due to new laws.

Applicants agree to partner with Healthy Acadia. Healthy Acadia will provide technical assistance and resources to develop a new or updated comprehensive tobacco-free policy. Resources include policy template, free signage, policy checklists, brochures, and other free presentations, materials, and training.

Submit an application form, budget, and your current tobacco/smoke-free policy (if applicable) to Healthy Acadia via email to Tobacco@HealthyAcadia.org. Questions prior to submission are also welcome.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are depleted. Click here for an application.