The Ohio State University

2008 Seed Grants

Ohio Tourism Partnership for Economic Development

This investment expands OSU’s outreach and engagement through a partnership between OSU Extension; The Ohio Sea Grant College Program; The Ohio Department of Development, Division of Travel and Tourism; and The Ohio Travel Association. This new Ohio Tourism Partnership for Economic Development enables learning beyond campus walls through the creation, launch and evaluation of : 1) a web-based Ohio Tourism Toolbox to provide industry professionals with education, research and other resources; 2) Ohio Tourism Curriculum on CD/DVD for educators, tourism industry members, and other leaders to advance tourism in their communities; and 3) a research & education network to better connect tourism/hospitality researchers and educators from universities, colleges, and career centers across the state. These elements of the project engage a minimum of 150 tourism industry professionals, educators and other community leaders.

With a growing Ohio tourism industry and new emerging partnerships resulting from High Performance Tourism Team training, the resources delivered through this partnership improve knowledge and practices. Industry professionals improve tourism business practices, ultimately creating jobs through increased proficiency and revenue generation of existing businesses, as well as entrepreneurship. Community economic development professionals and other community leaders benefit from improved access to sustainable community tourism development resources, which strengthens and enhances communities. To continue enhancing collaboration within and outside OSU, improving grassroots involvement, and developing longer term impact, the project will be incorporated into the work of OSU’S Tourism Team.

This grant was submitted by Julie Fox, OSU Direct Marketing & Tourism Specialist, College of Food, Ag. & Environmental Sciences, OSU South Centers; Melinda Huntley, Ohio Sea Grant College Program, Tourism Program Director; Amir Eylon, State Tourism Director, Ohio Department of Development; Marc McQuaid, Executive Director, Ohio Travel Association; Fang Meng, Ohio University, College of Health and Human Services; Treva Williams, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences and Community Development, OSU Extension

Ways of Knowing Water

This grant supports a partnership between the OSU Humanities Institute and Extension’s Watershed Management Program to build capacity for environmental education on the Scioto River Watershed. WKW will include a summer institute for educators, an exhibit at OSU’s Urban Arts Space at the Lazarus building, and a website supporting an on-line watershed learning community.

This grant was submitted by Rick Livingston, Associate Director, Institute for Collaborative Research and Public Humanities; Louie Ulman, Associate Professor, Department of English; Joe Bonnell, Watershed Management Program, College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; Anne Baird, OSU Extension, School of Environment and Natural Resources; Prudence Gill, Curator, Department of Art

Food, Fun and Me!: A Healthy Eating and Nutrition Education Program for 3rd-5th Graders Participating in Outreach Centers and After School Programs

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. It is estimated that in Franklin County that 25% of children are overweight as compared to 16% reported nationally by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Childhood obesity is associated with more severe health effects and illnesses as compared to adult obesity. This includes the increased risk of developing chronic diseases as adults such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes due to obesity.

Food, Fun, and Me! is a healthy eating and nutrition education program which has been specially designed through a partnership between The Diversity Enhancement Program at The James Cancer Hospital and OSU Extension Franklin County to reach minority and underserved 3 rd-5 th graders who participate in designated after school and community outreach programs in Columbus, Ohio. The program utilizes a series of lessons from the Jump Into Foods & Fitness (JIFF) curriculum to motivate and teach kids about healthy nutrition, eating habits, and physical activity. Food, Fun, and Me! will incorporate “train the trainer” formatted training sessions so that site administrators and OSU student volunteers can further achieve the sustainability of the program for years to come.

Children who are exposed to healthy information are more likely to carry out those behaviors as adults. Inherently supportive of the Healthy Ohio 2010 objectives, Food, Fun, and Me! is a fun and interactive approach to reach minority and underserved children and enhance the information available through their school’s health curriculum.

This grant was submitted by Sophia Tolliver, Program Manager, The Diversity Enhancement Program at The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute; Chasity Cooper, Program Director, The Diversity Enhancement Program at The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute; Marilyn Rabe, Extension Educator, Franklin County; Susan Shockey, Extension Educator, Franklin County

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