The Seaway Valley Prevention Council received a new 5-year Advancing Tobacco Free Communities grant.

The group, which operates in St. Lawrence County, says they will use the funds to combine the Reality Check program with their new Community Engagement program. The new venture "works to involve the community in tobacco related issues and change local tobacco policy," the group says in a statement.

Over the next 5 years, Community Engagement and Reality Check hope to establish a youth led Tobacco-Free Outdoor initiative in which we will encourage community businesses to adopt clean outdoor air policies, according to the SVPC.

They hope to also work closely with landlords and renters to adopt smoke-free multi-unit housing.

The group's advocacy efforts include writing letters to the editor, participating in and hosting community awareness events, recording radio ads and attending local policy meetings, they said in the statement.