1. Louisiana is now the most obese state in the country with an obesity rate of 34.7%. 1 The Challenge for a Healthier Louisiana is a grant program funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation (BCBSLAF) in response to the current obesity epidemic that challenges Louisiana non- profit organizations to create innovative, multilevel obesity prevention projects within their communities. It is a unique collaboration among BCBSLAF, Pennington Biomedical Research Center (PBRC), and over 175 community-based organizations throughout the state. PBRC is working with grantees to measure changes in healthy eating and physical activity at the project level, as well as examine the statewide impact of the grant program. The public-private collaboration between BCBSLAF and PBRC has not only mobilized local and regional partnerships across the state, but it has also utilized the strengths of each organization to create a funding opportunity that will be rigorously evaluated and will inform future obesity prevention initiatives. INTRODUCTION METHODSCONCLUSION PBRC is responsible for project development and administration and for evaluating the program. An integral part of this effort has involved ongoing technical assistance, capacity building, and program monitoring and evaluation. Figure 2 demonstrates the structure of the two lead organizations in relation to grantees. Of the 112 organizations that submitted Letters of Intent, 49 submitted applications. 12 projects were funded; they aim to increase healthy behaviors, namely, to improve eating habits and increase physical activity. Project activities are based on best practices. RESULTS Made possible by A public-private partnership catalyzes multi-level obesity prevention in Louisiana Allison Tohme, MPH, Elizabeth Gollub, PhD, MPH, RD, Denese Vlosky, PhD, Stephanie Broyles, PhD, Peter Katzmarzyk, PhD Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA Primary applicants were required to have at least one partnership in place and were encouraged to utilize diverse, unique relationships to develop comprehensive and cross-sector programs. We would like to acknowledge the contributions of Christy Reeves, MLS, MBA and Lydia Martin, BBA, who are with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1. Levi J, Segal L, Thomas K, St. Laurent R, Lang A, and Rayburn J. F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2013. August 2013. Trust for America’s Health/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Figure 2. Challenge Grant Organizational Chart There are two levels of partnership: 1.The BCBSLAF-PBRC partnership is the backbone for the state-wide grant program. 2.Each of the funded projects is a community collaboration at the local or regional level. Partners include non- profit, for-profit, and government agencies. Over $27,000,000 in BCBSLAF grant dollars and local matching funds are dedicated to developing policy councils, renovating parks, building gardens and farmers markets, and implementing educational programming, among other initiatives. Figure 1. TagCrowd Diagram of Challenge Grant Components Figure 3. Map of Challenge Grant Projects REFERENCES