Project Diabetes is sponsored by Tennessee Department of Health. Project Diabetes funds primary prevention projects in Tennessee that aim to prevent chronic disease through policy, systems, and environmental changes.

Tennessee Department of Health Project Diabetes Information About the New Website for the Tennessee Department of Health Chronic disease prevention through policy, systems, and environmental changes. The Tennessee Department of Health has several strategies in place to address the burden of preventable chronic disease on its citizens.

Project Diabetes is one of these strategies whose purpose is to fund primary prevention projects that aim to prevent disease from ever occurring. Such prevention is implemented through the utilization of policy, systems, and environmental changes (PSE) within the communities of Tennessee.

PSE approaches seek to go beyond interventions focused on individual behavior or one-time events to influence the systems that create the structures in which we work, live, and play. By changing policies, systems, and/or the environment, communities can tackle health issues such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and other chronic diseases. Being healthy is not just about individual choices.

Approaches to PSE change help highlight how communities function, including how resources are allocated and how services are delivered, and the influence of those systems and structures on community health before the onset of illness.

Program Lead, Project Officer Project Diabetes Grant Information The State funds projects that utilize one or more of the performance goal strategies listed below to achieve the overarching goals of the Project Diabetes Initiative.

The State awarded competitive grants in two categories: “Category A” grants - Applicants may apply for a grant of up to three (3) years, with funds not exceeding $150,000 per year, for a maximum total of $450,000. “Category B” grants – Applicants may apply for a grant for smaller, community-based projects of up to two years with funds not to exceed $15,000 per year, for a maximum total of $30,000.

Funding priorities for the grant cycle for 2022-2025 focus on two goals: Increase access to healthy food and beverages by establishing convenient outlets for distribution and purchase. Increase access to physical activity by providing convenient and safe spaces for exercise and recreation. After selecting goal(s), grantees address a strategy or strategies that they will take to achieve the selected goal.

Performance Goal 1 Strategies Strategy 1. 1: Start or expand farm-to-institution programs in schools, hospitals, workplaces, childcare centers, and other institutions. Strategy 1.

2: Start or expand community-supported agriculture (CSA) where partnerships are established between farmers and consumers in which consumers purchase a share of a farm’s products in advance. Strategy 1. 3: Include fruit and vegetables in emergency food programs.

Strategy 1. 4: Provide competitive pricing for healthy foods in school and municipal concessions. Strategy 1.

5: Enable farmers' markets to accept EBT, the electronic payment system of debit cards used to issue and redeem Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Strategy 1. 6: Food hubs - Support businesses or organizations that aggregate, distribute, and market local and regional food products.

Strategy 1. 7: Gleaning initiatives - Gather food left in fields after a primary harvest, food in fields where harvesting is not profitable, or excess produce from orchards, packing houses, urban agriculture sites, etc. Strategy 1.

8: Fruit and vegetable incentive programs - Offer participants with low incomes matching funds to purchase healthy foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables; often called bonus dollars, market bucks, Double Up Food Bucks, or nutrition incentives. Strategy 1.

9: Food literacy skill development- School vegetable gardens and cooking classes in designated areas where students can garden with guidance, along with nutrition and food preparation lessons and opportunities for taste tasting and hands-on learning. Strategy 1. 10: Healthy food initiatives in food pantries, such as Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP).

Strategy 1. 11: Water availability and promotion interventions - Make water readily available in various settings via regular placement of drinking fountains, water coolers, bottled water in vending machines, etc. Strategy 1. 12: College-based obesity prevention educational interventions - Support multi-component educational interventions for college students that address nutrition, physical activity, and healthy weight management.

Strategy 1. 13: Breastfeeding promotion programs - Provide education, information, counseling, and support for breastfeeding to women throughout pre-and post-natal care. Strategy 1.

14: Workplace supports for breastfeeding - Support breastfeeding via private, well-equipped lactation spaces in workplaces, along with breastfeeding breaks, flexible schedules, professional lactation support, etc. Performance Goal 2 Strategies Strategy 2.

1: Active recess - Establish a break from the school day, typically before lunch, that involves planned, inclusive, actively supervised games or activities; also called a semi-structured or structured recess. Strategy 2. 2: College-based obesity prevention educational interventions - Support multi-component educational interventions for college students that address nutrition, physical activity, and healthy weight management.

Strategy 2. 3: Activity program for older adults - Offer group educational, social, creative, musical, or physical activities that promote social interactions, regular attendance, and community involvement among older adults. Strategy 2.

4: Community fitness programs - Offer exercise classes (e.g., aerobic dance, yoga, Tai Chi, cycling, etc.) and fitness program support in community, senior, fitness, and community wellness centers. Strategy 2. 5: Bicycle path, lanes & tracks - Accommodate or provide dedicated space for bicyclists via bicycle paths, lanes, cycle tracks, or protected bike lanes, etc. Strategy 2.

6: Places for physical activity - Modify local environments to support physical activity, increase access to new or existing facilities for physical activity. Strategy 2. 7: Greenspace and parks - Increase recreational green space through new parks or open spaces, renovation or enhancement of under-used recreation areas, rehabilitation of vacant lots, brownfields, etc. Strategy 2.

8: Worksite obesity prevention interventions - interventions are evidence-based multi-component efforts that combine education, environmental change, physical activity opportunities, and incentives for healthy behavior. A request for applications (RFA) is issued every three years. The next RFA is expected to be issued in January 2028.

A letter of intent (LOI) is required for an invitation to apply. The Notice of Award is posted in late April or early May with a July 1 start date. Project Diabetes funds are distributed through a request for reimbursement process.

Therefore, applicants must have the funds needed to implement the project upfront. Grantees are reimbursed monthly for their expenses.

2022-2025 Category A Organizations Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development Council - Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, Washington, Sullivan Counties Expanding the Farmacy Fit physical activity program from 7 to 10 farmers markets, the program incentivizes physical activity with produce vouchers. Creating pop-up farmers markets at housing authorities, along with nutrition and cooking education.

Funds will increase the number of community gardens supported from 7 to 10. Center for Transforming Communities - Shelby County Expand community gardens, food distribution, and environmental improvements. Develop food-growing spaces, install infrastructure, and increase fresh produce distribution capacity through pantries and mobile events.

Chattanooga Food Center - Hamilton County Expanding access to healthy foods in underserved neighborhoods by providing SNAP doubling incentives for fresh fruits and vegetables. Food literacy and cooking classes will be provided to children and adults. Fitness programming will be provided in zip codes with high health City of Chattanooga - Hamilton County Revitalize Stringer’s Ridge Park infrastructure.

Repave Cherokee Trail and improve access points to create a safer experience for hikers, runners, and cyclists. City of Ducktown - Polk County Revitalization of Ducktown City Park, including the installation of a new playground, resurfacing of two existing tennis courts into dedicated pickleball courts, and upgrading the park's picnic areas.

City of Jefferson City - Jefferson County Build walking trails and update existing greenways/sidewalks that connect parks and facilities, providing interconnectivity and access throughout the entire community. City of Lewisburg - Marshall County Renovate tennis courts and construct four new pickleball courts. City of Red Bank - Hamilton County Construction of a multi-use trail system located in the center of Red Bank.

Downtown Memphis Commission - Shelby County Demolition and construction of a sidewalk along Vance Ave. , including ADA-compliant ramps at intersections, leading to a public library and Tom Lee Park on the Mississippi River, where there is access to several modes of physical activity. Grow Oak Ridge - Anderson County Enable SNAP purchases at Lenoir City Farmers Market.

Five area farmers markets will implement SNAP Doubling and Nourish Kids Club for ages 2 to 12.

Expand the "Grow Your Own" program, which provides seeds, seedlings, and technical assistance to people who desire to grow their Inspiritus Middle TN Empowerment Services - Davidson County "Establish a direct purchase agreement with local farmers to provide a consistent supply of fresh produce to replace unhealthy food in the organization's pantry. Expand "Healthy Gardens" throughout Middle Tennessee.

Enhance physical activity and social connection for older adults and women through the "Building Healthy Families" support group and THRIVE Studios art therapy program. Knowledge Quest - Shelby County SNAP Doubling at Green Leaf Organic Market + Deli in South Memphis. Also, a 90-day wellness program including nutrition and fitness sessions for 72 families.

Quarterly U-pick events will reinforce learning and build connections. Little Chefs, Big Change - Knox and Campbell Counties Healthy, plant-based cooking classes for school-aged children in at-risk communities in Knox & Campbell Counties.

Mountain Goat Trail Alliance - Grundy and Marion Counties Continued construction of the Mountain Goat Trail, a paved, ADA-accessible, multimodal walking, running, and cycling path along the route of the Historic Mountain Goat Railroad. Nashville Farmers Market - Davidson County Campaign and programming to expand a Fresh Bucks nutrition incentive program for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program customers.

Nourish Knoxville, Inc- Serving Knox, Claiborne, Greene, Sevier, Union, and Washington Counties Doubling the value of SNAP funds to purchase fresh produce through the “Double Up Food Bucks” program, teaching kids about food and nutrition through the “Nourish Kids” food literacy program, and the “Nourish Moves” physical activity incentive program at farmers markets in 6 counties.

Overton Park Shell - Shelby County The Shell on Wheels Initiative takes fitness programming directly to underserved Memphis neighborhoods in a series of events. Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association - Washington County Completion of Lower Tannery Knobs in Tannery Knobs Bike Park, including the Rotary Bicycle playground and Progressive Skills Park.

The Nashville Food Project - Davidson County Supports three programs, "Community Meals" (400,000 scratch-made nutritionally dense meals serving Nashville's most medically vulnerable zip codes), "Produce Rx" (connects low-income patients with diet-related illnesses to biweekly community-supported agriculture CSA shares from local farms), and "Growing Together Farmers Market" (led by immigrant and refugee farmers in South Nashville, increasing access to local produce for SNAP-eligible households."

The Store - Davidson County The project embeds food literacy and fresh food access into the daily lives of families, seniors, and children across Middle Tennessee. Heart-healthy and diabetes-friendly items will be clearly marked in The Store. Cooking classes, culturally relevant recipes, and budget-friendly meal planning will be offered.

A second store in TriStar Centennial Medical Center will open. 2022-2024 Category B Organizations Bells Bend Conservation - Davidson County Purchase surplus produce from local farms to distribute through nonprofit partners serving economically disadvantaged populations, at risk of diet-related chronic diseases.

City of Martin - Weakley County Implement the Power of Produce Kids Club and the Market Mile program to encourage physical activity and healthy eating. Nutrition education classes will be provided at the Captain's Food Pantry. La Paz Chattanooga - Hamilton County Funds will support the addition of whole and minimally processed foods to the existing food pantry, and nutrition education will be provided to pantry clients.

Methodist Le Bonheur Community Outreach - Shelby County Marketing and outreach for breastfeeding classes at Methodist South Hospital, participation incentives, and links to additional programs and resources to support women through pregnancy and postpartum breastfeeding.

The Works, Inc. - Shelby County Fresh Savings, a SNAP doubling incentive program that allows SNAP recipients to double the value of their SNAP benefits to purchase fresh produce at four locations in low-income, low-access neighborhoods in Memphis.

University of Tennessee - Unicoi, Cocke, Campbell, Scott, Johnson, Claiborne, Fentress, Carroll, and Perry Counties Assess the needs of ten food pantries for items, such as shelving, refrigeration, food storage, tablets, and other technology to increase pantry capacity. This Page Last Updated: March 26, 2026 at 12:24 PM