ClearWay Minnesota + RSI
Building a National Leader in Public Health
Minnesota’s Tobacco Industry Settlement Project
Background
ClearWay Minnesota was created as part of Minnesota’s landmark 1998 settlement with the tobacco industry. Established as an independent public foundation and initially known as the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco (MPAAT), the organization was charged with reducing the harm caused by tobacco and improving public health across the state.
Its court-ordered lifespan was limited to 25 years, creating urgency to build an organization capable of delivering measurable and lasting impact.
Challenge
Although MPAAT had substantial resources and an ambitious mission, its purpose and governance were not well understood. Early criticism from legislators and an investigation by the Minnesota Attorney General raised questions about whether the organization was fulfilling the intent of the tobacco settlement.
At the same time, MPAAT needed to define a strategy that extended beyond smoking cessation to include research, public education and policy change. To succeed, it had to establish credibility with lawmakers, public health organizations, the media and the public.
Our Role
Rapp Strategies was engaged to lead a strategic planning process to clarify the organization’s mission, sharpen its priorities and strengthen its public standing.
That work helped the organization:
Adopt the name ClearWay Minnesota
Reposition itself as a transparent public foundation
Build a long-term strategic plan focused on research, cessation services, public education and policy change
Develop a strong reputation with policymakers, public health partners and the media
Over the next two decades, we served as ClearWay’s lead public affairs adviser, providing:
Strategic communications and message development
Reputation and issue management
Government relations and policymaker outreach
Coalition building and grassroots engagement
Media relations
Public opinion research
Results
With Rapp Strategies’ support, ClearWay Minnesota became one of the most respected tobacco-control organizations in the nation.
The organization met or exceeded its core objectives and helped achieve several landmark policy victories in Minnesota, including:
The 2005 Health Impact Fee on cigarettes
The Freedom to Breathe Act of 2007
A $1.60 per-pack cigarette tax increase in 2013
Minnesota’s statewide Tobacco 21 law in 2020
ClearWay established nationally recognized quit-smoking services, funded leading scientific research and built broad public support for policies that significantly reduced tobacco use and exposure.
By the time its court-ordered mission concluded in 2021, ClearWay had become a trusted leader in public health and a national model for state-based tobacco control.
Ongoing Support
Rapp Strategies served as ClearWay Minnesota’s lead public affairs and strategic communications adviser for nearly 20 years and continued in that role until the organization completed its court-ordered mission and sunset in 2021. Throughout that period, we helped ClearWay navigate complex political, scientific and reputational challenges while advancing one of the most successful public health initiatives in Minnesota history.