Since 1998, a concerned group of people have been meeting and working on tobacco prevention. With tobacco settlement dollars coming to the state, this group decided to become the recipient of these funds and to have quality tobacco prevention programs under the control of the people of Benton-Franklin Counties. In March 2000, Tobacco Free Benton-Franklin Counties was incorporated as a non-profit agency to be the recipient of these funds.

In September 2000, Tobacco Free Benton-Franklin Counties was awarded over $76,000 to provide tobacco prevention and control programs. With Kennewick General Hospital providing fiscal management and the United Way supplying office space, 100% of the funds are able to be used for prevention and control efforts. Currently, Tobacco Free Benton-Franklin Counties’ total budget is over $180,000.