The Delaware Public Health District (DPHD), through its Community Health Division, is offering the 2025 Healthy Communities Micro-Grant (HCMG) program. This initiative provides up to $15,000 in reimbursable grant funding to support projects that enhance access to healthy food, promote healthy eating habits, and encourage physical activity with the goal of reducing chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. The grant prioritizes Policy, System, and Environmental (PSE) changes that create sustainable settings for health-promoting behaviors.

The grant aims to fund quick-to-implement projects that align with public health goals at local, state, and national levels. Funding decisions will be based on the number and scope of proposals received, recommendations from the review panel, and final approval from the DPHD Leadership Team and Board of Health. The DPHD reserves the right to modify the number of grants awarded and funding amounts based on available resources and the geographic distribution of applicants. The grant also supports the implementation of the 2023-2028 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) for Delaware County.

Eligible projects may focus on a range of activities related to healthy eating and active living (HEAL). Examples include the development or expansion of community gardens, farmers' markets, food pantries, and food service policies that enhance the availability of nutritious foods. Physical activity projects may include bike-sharing programs, active transportation initiatives, improvements to parks and playgrounds, and shared-use agreements for recreational facilities. The funding can be used for items such as signage, advertising, equipment, refrigeration units, storage solutions, and physical activity supplies, but it cannot be used for food, beverages, personnel salaries, or capital improvements such as constructing new sidewalks.

Only organizations located within the DPHD jurisdiction are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include local government entities (city, village, or townships), nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, school districts, universities, preschools, libraries, and other organizations with strong project alignment that collaborate with nonprofit or government entities. Awarded funds will be provided as reimbursements, requiring submission of proper invoices and documentation. Additional grant requirements include signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with DPHD, implementing project commitments as outlined in the award letter, and participating in at least one quarterly meeting with the Partnership for a Healthy Delaware County.

Applications open on February 7, 2025, and must be submitted electronically by 4:00 p.m. on March 21, 2025. Funding decisions will be announced by May 2, 2025, via a Notice of Award (NOA) sent through email. Applications will be reviewed by a volunteer committee composed of Partnership for a Healthy Delaware County members, community representatives, and local organization leaders. The review committee will make recommendations to DPHD, with final decisions approved by the DPHD Board of Health.

Applicants must submit an electronic application that includes detailed project descriptions, expected health outcomes, alignment with strategic health plans, and community partnership details. Evaluation criteria include the project’s ability to address health equity, alignment with strategic public health goals, and feasibility of implementation. A detailed budget and justification for all requested funding must also be included in the proposal. For further inquiries about project eligibility and budget items, applicants can contact the HCMG program coordinator, Josie Bonnette, by March 7, 2025.