Built Environment and Health
The Tennessee Department of Health recognizes the link between the built environment and public health and supports the creation of healthy built environments to protect, promote, and improve the health and prosperity of all Tennesseans.Built Environment + Health
The places where we live, learn, work, play, and worship influence how we view and understand our communities, ourselves, and each other. A well-designed built environment can decrease obesity, heart disease, and diabetes rates while increasing physical, mental, and social health and building community resilience. The Tennessee Department of Health recognizes the link between the built environment and public health and supports the creation of healthy built environments to protect, promote, and improve the health and prosperity of all Tennesseans.
Healthy Development Coordinators
TDH has seven regional positions to promote the development of healthy built environments across the state. These Healthy Development Coordinators (HDCs) serve as external-facing positions that engage in cross-sector collaboration to address the social and environmental determinants of health primarily in Tennessee’s rural and suburban areas. Each HDC lives and works in one of the state’s seven health regions, developing relationships and collaborating with a wide range of local stakeholders to prioritize health in decisions related to land use planning, transportation, housing, greenspace, food access, and economic development. The HDCs have a variety of backgrounds and expertise, including public health, urban and regional planning, and outdoor recreation.
List of HDC Regional Contacts
| West Region HDC | Cory Hussey, MPH cory.hussey@tn.gov 731-886-1545 |
Counties Served: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, McNairy, Obion, Tipton, Weakley |
| South Central Region HDC | Shay Smith, MPH shay.l.smith@tn.gov 931-490-8373 |
Counties Served: Bedford, Coffee, Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Perry, Wayne |
| Mid-Cumberland Region HDC | Vincent Black, MS vincent.black@tn.gov 615-650-7000 |
Counties Served: Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, Wilson |
| Upper Cumberland Region HDC | John Copeland john.copeland@tn.gov 615-253-7275 |
Counties Served: Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, Dekalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, Warren, White |
| Southeast Region HDC | Kelly Ware, MPH, CHES kelly.ware@tn.gov 423-634-5841 |
Counties Served: Bledsoe, Bradley, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea, Sequatchie |
| East Region HDC | Cameron Taylor cameron.taylor@tn.gov 865-549-5317 |
Counties Served: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, Union |
| Northeast Region HDC | Delaney M. Cornett, MPH delaney.cornett@tn.gov 423-491-6074 |
Counties Served: Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, Washington |
Active Living Workshops
An Active Living Workshop is a half day of learning and action planning with elected officials and key community partners with an interest in built environment planning. During the workshop, participants evaluate the health impacts of their current community design and discuss ways to improve it. The agenda includes: Active Living Education Session; Walk Audit; Mapping of Strengths and Opportunities for Improvement.
Tennessee Map of Active Living Workshops
This Tennessee map is clickable and links to a website hosted by a third-party with location and contact details about Active Living Workshops throughout the state.
Upon completion of workshop, the HDC will review the findings from the activities above to create an After Workshop Report with suggested next steps. These workshops are an excellent way to catalyze built environment projects in your community! If you are interested in hosting or organizing an Active Living Workshop, contact your Regions HDC.
Built Environment Funding Opportunities
This section lists sources of previous funding opportunities available from public and private sector organizations.
Grants, Sources, and Descriptions
| Grant Name | Agency | Who Can Apply | Brief Description |
| Community Transportation Planning Grant | TDOT | Cities, towns, and counties outside of MPO's | Community mobility plans, corridor studies, multi-modal studies, major street plans, etc. |
| Surface Transportation Block Grant | TDOT | Automatically granted to municipalities >5,000 | Transportation system improvements |
| Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) | TDOT | Local governments | Main funding source for general pedestrian and bicyling infrastructure projects |
| People for Bikes grants | People for Bikes | Local governments (or government agencies working locally) and non-profits | Making your community bike friendly, broad grants |
| Community Development Block Grants | TNECD for HUD | Cities, counties, | Providing essential, pressing community development needs in underserved areas. Can go towards community livability projects. |
| America Walks Community Chnage Grants | America Walks | Non-profits, local governments | Improving community walkability-eligible for program, policy, or environmental projects |
| AAA Traffic Safety Grant | AAA | Tax-exempt organizations | improving traffic safety for all road users through activities, programs and training |
| Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure | BICI | Cities | "Led in partnership with the Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI), BICI will: Fund ambitious cycling infrastructure projects by providing grants of $400k USD to $1M USD; Refine project plans by connecting winning cities with world-class technical assistance from GDCI; Implement projects and track progress by training city leaders on data collection, resident engagement and other industry best practices; Connect cities with a global network of peers." |
| Grant Name | Agency | Who Can Apply? | Brief Description |
| Arts Build Communities | TN Arts Commission | local governments, 501c3, higher ed if benefits public / open to and benefits the public. | Getting art to happen in our communities - programs, events, art in public places |
| Tourism Enhancement Grant | TN Department of Tourist Development | city or county governments / one application per county; must have former grants closed out; can split between multiple places as long as it tells a cohesive story | Developing and improving tourism assets for tourism-related economic impact...can't be for something completely new, but can build on what you have |
| Play Space | National Parks and Recreation Association and Disney | Local Parks and Recreation Agencies | Inclusive play spaces |
| The Explore Fund | The North Face | 501c3s | Increasing participation in the outdoors and working in innovative ways to protect the environment |
| Acres for America | National Fish & Wildlife Foundation | 501c3s, state and local governments, Native American tribes, and educational institutions | Providing access for people to enjoy the outdoors; and, ensure the future of local economies that depend on forestry, ranching and recreation |
| BlueCross Healthy Places | BCBSTN | Government entities and non-profit organizations with experience implementing large-scale civic projects | Making active, healthy public spaces (likely parks) / can't go towards purchasing land, staffing pay, or co-branded projects |
| KEEN Effect Grants | KEEN | 501c3s | Inspiring youth outdoor participation and engaging diverse audiences through innovative and creative approaches. |
| Challenge America | National Endowment for the Arts | 501c3s, local or state government units | Supporting small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. |
| TN Disability Coalition Small Grants | TN Disability Coalition | 501c3s and government entities | build capacity in the disability community to serve individuals with disabilities and their families. Can go towards infrastructure. |
| BOGS Impact Fund | BOGS | 501c3s | outdoor education opportunities for low income and underserved communities |
| Levitt AMP [Your City] Music Series Grants | Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation | 501c3s | Funding 10 free outdoor concerts that are musically diverse and of high-caliber talent. Technical assistance provided. Good projects will help revitalize an underutilized public space. |
| AARP Community Challenge | AARP | 501c3s, 501c6s, Government Entities, other types of organizations considered on case-by-case basis | Quick-action projects across the country, helping communities make immediate improvements and jumpstart long-term progress to support residents of all ages. |
| POWER Initiative | Appalachian Regional Commission | Local development districts, Native American tribes, local governments, higher education institutions, public or private non-profits | Helps communities and regions that have been affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries |
| Pool Safely | Consumer Product Safety Commission | State and Local Governments | Assistance to help implement enforcement and education programs, with the goal of preventing drownings and drain entrapments in pools and spas. |
| GameTime Cares Playground Grants | GameTime | Communities | 100% matching funds for playground equipment |
| Gardens for Good | Nature's Path | Up to $5,000 for community garden projects. | |
| Love your Block Grant | Johns Hopkins University | U.S. Cities with a population of at least 30,000 | "connects mayor’s offices with community residents to revitalize their neighborhoods one block at a time...From turning vacant lots into community gardens to helping elderly neighbors with home repairs to avoid fines and safely age in place." |
| Grant Name | Agency | Who Can Apply? | Brief Description |
| Fuel up to play 60 | NFL and National Dairy Council | Schools | Nutrition and Physical activity improvements. Examples: signage and paint for walking tracks, equipment for lunchrooms, visits to farms, water bottles, GoNoodle, etc. |
| Donors Choose | individuals | Teachers | Teachers' equipment and funding for programs |
| School Breakfast Grant Program | Action for Healthy Kids | Schools | Starting or expanding school breakfast participation |
| Game on Grants | Action for Healthy Kids | Schools | For schools to improve or introduce new nutrition and physical activity programs |
| Good Sports Grants | Good Sports | Schools and 501c3s | Sports Equipment for underserved children |
| Tobacco-Free Generation Campus Initiative | American Cancer Society | Colleges and Universities | Accelerate and expands the adoption and implementation of 100% smoke- and tobacco-free policies on college and university campuses. Grants ranging from $8,000 to $20,000 |
| Grant Name | Agency | Who can Apply? | Brief Description |
| Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities Program | Safe Routes Partnership | Community based non-profits | Developing an action plan and executing it to deliver safe non-car routes to parks |
| Walking College | America Walks | Anyone | Developing walking and walkable community advocates |
| 10-Minute Walk Planning Grant and Technical Assistance | NRPA | local government agencies operating parks OR affiliated 501c3s | Grants and technical assistance to support planning efforts that help cities increase access to high-quality parks within a 10-minute walk |
| Grant Name | Agency | Who Can Apply? | Brief Description |
| Farmers Market Promotion Program | USDA | all organizations involved in getting food directly from producers to consumers | Improving taking goods directly from farmers to market |
| Local Food Promotion Program | USDA | supporters of local and regional food business enterprises | Planning or implementing new local and regional food business enterprises |
| Healthy Food Financing Initiative | USDA | SNAP processing staple and perishable food retailers in underserved areas | providing healthy food retail options in underserved areas |
| Farm to School | USDA | school districts, state and local agencies, tribal organizations, agricultural producers, and non-profit organizations | Designed to improve access to local foods in eligible schools |
| Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grants Program | USDA | Public food program service providers, tribal organizations or private nonprofit entities | To create community-based food projects and to plan for improving community food security |
| Gro More Good Grassroots | KidsGardening | Non-profits, tax-exempt organizations, schools | Development of new and expansion of existing youth garden programs with sustainability plans |
| Youth Garden Grant | KidsGardening | Non-profits, public or private schools, youth programs | School or youth community gardens and gardening programs that enhance the quality of life for students and their communities |
| Safer School Garden Grant | Safer Brand | Students on behalf of their schools | School garden development |
| Garden Grant Program | Whole Kids Foundation | School systems or non-profits | Edible, educational school/youth gardens |
| 2021Budding Botanist Grant | KidsGardening | Public, private or charter schools from which 40%+ of kids would qualify for free and reduced lunch | helping kids learn about plants, explore their world and inspire them to take care of the life they discover in their local ecosystems |
| The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program | USDA | government agencies and non-profits | Supports projects to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables among low-income consumers participating in SNAP by providing incentives at the point of purchase. |
| Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program | USDA | State agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; Federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations, foundations, or corporations; individuals; or any group consisting of 2 or more entities described in this paragraph | "The purpose of the Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program is to increase the knowledge of agricultural science and improve the nutritional health of children. The program’s goal is to increase the capacity for food, garden, and nutrition education within host organizations or entities, such as school cafeterias and classrooms, while fostering higher levels of community engagement between farms and school systems by bringing together stakeholders from distinct parts of the food system. The initiative is part of a broader effort to not only increase access to school meals for low-income children, but also to dramatically improve their quality." |
| Healthy Meals Incentive | USDA | For profit organizations other than small businesses; Public, State controlled, and private institutions of higher education; Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education |
"USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has established the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative to improve the nutritional quality of school meals through food systems transformation, school food authority recognition and technical assistance, the generation and sharing of innovative ideas and tested practices, and grants." |
| Grant Name | Agency | Who Can Apply | Brief Description |
| Innovations in Accessibility Grant Funding Opportunity | Advancing States | Local and regional private nonprofit or government organizations that directly provide transportation services | Provides up to $30,000 support develop program innovations for increasing accessible transportation in the community that are ready to implement on Day 1 |
| TDOT Rural Planning Initiative (Contact your RPO) | TDOT | TN Counties and Municipalities in at-risk or distressed counties located outside an MPO boundary | Fund corridor studies, access management studies, road diet analysis, resurfacing and striping plans for local roads, transportation facility inventories, transportation feasibility studies, and all CTPG eligible planning documents |
| Community Rides Grants | National RTAP | Current recipients and subrecipients of the FTA's Forumula Grans for Rural Areas Program | Eligible applicants can "apply for grant awards of up to $100,000 for projects that develop or strengthen transportation partnerships that improve social determinants of health in rural and tribal communities." |
| Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning | Federal Transit Administration | communities | to integrate land use and transportation planning in new fixed guideway and core capacity transit project corridors. |
| Community Mobility Design Challenge | National Center for Mobility Management | Government Agencies and Non-Profits | "support communities in seeking innovative ways to address the personal well-being of community members that face transportation barriers to health care access, economic opportunity, healthy food, or community and peer support opportunities" |
| SS4A (Safe Streets and Roads or All) | FHWA |
|
Discretionary program to fund grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. |
| Grant Name | Agency | Who Can Apply | Brief Description |
| Global Ideas for U.S. Solutions: Cities Taking Action to Address Health, Equity, and Climate Change | Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | organizations from a wide range of fields and disciplines—both within and outside the health/public health sector | Funds proposals that stimulate action in U.S. cities around smart, effective approaches from abroad that mitigate the unequal health risks posed by climate change. Specifically, they seek proposals that explore changes in city planning, policies, and programs that address: buildings and energy; land use and urban planning; transportation; waste; food systems and food security; and air quality. |
| Community Tree Planting Program | TDA | Local governments, private non-profits, educational institutions | Funds to plant trees in riparian areas. |
| Advancing Environmental Justice Through Technical Assistance Mini Grants | American Public Health Association | 501c3 Non-profit organizations | A grant and technical assistance program to help community-based organizations work to advance environmental justice. |
| Conservation Alliance Grants | KEEN | "The Conservation Alliance seeks to protect threatened wild places throughout North America for their habitat and recreational values. " | |
| Building Resilience Against Climate Effects: Implementing and Evaluating Adaptation Strategies that Protect and Promote Human Health | CDC | ||
| Creating Homes Initiative 2.0 | TDMHSAS | Non-profits | Develop and expand the number of safe, affordable and quality permanent housing options for Tennesseans living with substance use disorder, in particular opioid use disorder. |
Other Funding Resources
For more information, email shannon.velasquez@tn.gov.
Healthy Built Environment Grants
Every year, TDH allocates about $860,000 to fund built environment projects that support physical activity, healthy eating, and community resilience. The grant aims to address health disparities and promote inclusivity of individuals of all abilities and backgrounds. Local and State government entities, American Indian tribes, and non-profit entities with 501(c)(3) status are eligible to apply.
This Tennessee map is clickable and links to a website hosted by a third-party with location and contact details about Active Living Workshops throughout the state.
Tennessee Map of Funded Healthy Built Environment Projects
This Tennessee map is clickable and links to a website hosted by a third-party with details about funded Healthy Built Environment Projects.
The grant application period begins in January-February each year. If you would like to receive a notification when the grant opens, please sign up for our Built Environment + Health Newsletter. This grant has funded a variety of projects, including community plans, playgrounds, parks, greenways, trails, sports facilities, bike infrastructure, and walking tracks.
Built Environment + Health Newsletter
The Office of Primary Prevention's Built Environment + Health Newsletter shares the latest news, best practices, events, webinars, and funding sources around the intersection of public health and built environment in Tennessee and beyond. Click here to sign up to receive the Built Environment + Health newsletter or complete the form below.