Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Healthy Places for Healthy People
- Is there grant funding associated with this program?
- What kind of final product will my community receive through this assistance?
- Is this program open to communities that are not in the Appalachian region?
- Does the applicant have to be a single community, or could a region or county apply for the planning assistance?
- Can an entity apply for more than one neighborhood or town in the region as long as they are separate applications?
- Are there specific outcomes or reporting that are expected as part of this program?
- If an applicant has recently been awarded another federal grant, would that disqualify the applicant for this assistance?
- Is there a cost to the communities selected for technical assistance?
- Can applicants also apply to other EPA technical assistance programs?
- Should I combine my application into a single file with the letter(s) of support?
- What should I do if I am unable to save the information I enter into the fillable form?
- Are U.S. territories eligible to apply?
- Can funds be used for other types of technical assistance besides a workshop?
- Who provides the technical assistance? Can it be provided by members of the community? Can we suggest people who we think would be a good fit to consult for the specific community applying?
- How often do you solicit applications?
- How many communities will be selected for this round?
- Can a local college, public university, or extension agency be a lead organization?
- Should the point of contact be with the organization that is applying?
- Can someone other than the point of contact manage the project?
- What are the main differences between Local Foods, Local Places and Healthy Places for Healthy People?
- Can the program be combined with other programs that provide loans and/or grant money?
Updated October 19, 2017
1. Is there grant funding associated with this program?
Healthy Places for Healthy People is a planning assistance program, so selected communities will receive access to technical experts who will work with them to hold a two-day convening that brings together stakeholders in the community to create an action plan for creating more walkable, healthy, vibrant downtowns and neighborhoods. Communities will not receive funds directly from EPA. We encourage participation from federal and state agencies and other potential funding partners in the workshops, so that communities can learn about how they might apply for additional resources to help them accomplish their vision, but those funds are not guaranteed.
2. What kind of final product will my community receive through this assistance?
Communities that receive Healthy Places for Healthy People assistance will receive a community action plan developed by community stakeholders during a two-day workshop. Community action plans developed in the pilot round of Healthy Places for Healthy People are not yet available online.
3. Is this program open to communities that are not in the Appalachian region?
Yes, this opportunity is open to communities that are outside the Appalachian region. Rural, economically distressed communities, including those in Appalachia, might receive special consideration, but communities anywhere in the United States can apply and are eligible to receive assistance.
4. Does the applicant have to be a single community, or could a region or county apply for the planning assistance?
Regional organizations are eligible to apply. However, the application should request assistance for a single neighborhood, town, or city and identify a strong local partner. Countywide projects will be considered only if they are aimed at improving main streets and mixed-use neighborhoods. Multi-county or state-level projects are not eligible for this assistance.
5. Can an entity apply for more than one neighborhood or town in the region as long as they are separate applications?
Yes, applicants can submit multiple, separate applications for consideration. However, no more than one application from a single neighborhood or town will be selected for assistance.
6. Are there specific outcomes or reporting that are expected as part of this program?
There are no formal reporting or other requirements after the technical assistance process is completed. However, we will send optional, periodic surveys to selected communities to ask about progress in implementing the action plans. These surveys typically occur during the community workshop, after the final community action plan is delivered, one year after the workshop, and two years after the workshop. We also like to remain in contact with our technical assistance recipients, and we hope communities will let us know as they implement parts of their action plans.
7. If an applicant has recently been awarded another federal grant, would that disqualify the applicant for this assistance?
No. If applicable, the application should explain how this assistance would complement the work to be completed with the help of other federal funding.
8. Is there a cost to the communities selected for technical assistance?
Most communities incur little to no cost aside from staff time devoted to planning and participating in the workshop. The program does not provide any funds directly to communities. The community is responsible for securing a venue for the workshop, although most communities are able to identify a no-cost venue. In addition, the technical assistance award does not include funds for refreshments at the workshop, so any refreshments are provided at the community’s discretion and cost.
9. Can applicants also apply to other EPA technical assistance programs?
Yes, applicants can apply to more than one program. However, applicants will likely receive assistance from no more than one program in 2018.
10. Should I combine my application into a single file with the letter(s) of support?
No. The application and letter(s) of support must be submitted as two separate files. The application must be submitted in the original (not scanned) format. Multiple letters of support should be combined into a single file.
11. What should I do if I am unable to save the information I enter into the fillable form?
You must use the latest version of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software Exit to save the fillable form.
12. Are U.S. territories eligible to apply?
Yes, U.S. territories are eligible for this assistance.
13. Can funds be used for other types of technical assistance besides a workshop?
No. All selected communities will receive planning assistance that centers around a two-day workshop.
14. Who provides the technical assistance? Can it be provided by members of the community? Can we suggest people who we think would be a good fit to consult for the specific community applying?
The assistance will be provided by a team selected by EPA that might include federal staff and/or contractors hired by EPA through a competitive solicitation. EPA will select a single contractor team for multiple communities that we will serve through this round.
15. How often do you solicit applications?
Past solicitations have occurred on roughly an annual basis. Solicitations for another round will depend on future funding.
16. How many communities will be selected for this round?
We don’t know exactly how many yet, as funding is still being worked out.
17. Can a local college, public university, or extension agency be a lead organization?
Yes, local colleges, universities, and extension agencies can serve as the lead organization. However, it is important to show evidence that you’ll be able to bring together community stakeholders, including residents, to a public workshop.
18. Should the point of contact be with the organization that is applying?
Yes, the point of contact should be from the lead organization. If there is a strong partner organization, mention that in the text of the application. An optional letter of support from partner organizations can help demonstrate their commitment to participate fully in the technical assistance process.
19. Can someone other than the point of contact manage the project?
No, the point of contact listed on the application should be the person that will actually manage the project. The point of contact does not need to be the leader or a senior member of the organization as long as the person is empowered to make decisions concerning the project and would be an effective leader of a local team consisting of representatives from partner organizations.
20. What are the main differences between Local Foods, Local Places and Healthy Places for Healthy People?
The key focus of Local Foods, Local Places is how local food systems can help a community revitalize downtowns or existing neighborhoods. Healthy Places for Healthy People focuses on how healthcare partners can anchor downtowns and revitalize existing neighborhoods. Both programs use the same technical assistance model.
While we do not formally combine programs, one of the goals of this program is to ensure that other community investments are as productive as possible. Applicants with existing funding should explain how that work would be coordinated with this planning assistance.