Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems

The Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the Department of Health and Human Services, is a major federal funding initiative intended to bolster the capacity and performance of public health agencies across the United States. It emerges as a response to the critical challenges exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which not only disrupted health systems but also revealed long-standing disparities and weaknesses in public health infrastructure. The funder, CDC's Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services (CSELS), is the agency’s lead office for public health infrastructure and data modernization, making it the appropriate body to administer this grant opportunity. This discretionary funding opportunity aims to enable strategic investments in workforce expansion, foundational capabilities, and data modernization. The overarching objective is to help public health departments become more resilient, efficient, and equitable in delivering services. Component A of the grant targets state and local public health agencies with the goal of modernizing operations, staffing, and systems. Component B supports national public health partners who will provide technical assistance, training, and evaluation resources to the Component A recipients. Together, these components promote a collaborative, scalable transformation of the public health landscape nationwide. Notably, recipients are granted maximum flexibility to use funds to support workforce development, such as hiring staff, supporting staff wellness, and enhancing internal workforce systems. There are no restrictions on the types of positions funded. The program prioritizes capacity-building strategies that enhance data systems, improve operational efficiency, and modernize foundational capabilities. The CDC expects that through improved data modernization efforts, public health agencies will be better positioned to integrate into broader health and healthcare systems. The program also emphasizes the need to demonstrate the ability to improve health equity and address disparities, particularly for medically underserved populations. Importantly, the grant addresses historic underinvestment in marginalized, rural, and minority communities, reinforcing a commitment to inclusive public health improvement. Eligibility for Component A is limited to U.S. state governments, special district governments, and local governments that serve a county population of 2 million or more, or a city population of 400,000 or more, based on 2020 U.S. Census data. Applicants must submit signed documentation on organizational letterhead confirming the jurisdiction population and the legal authority of the public health agency to make hiring decisions. Failure to submit this documentation will result in the application being considered non-responsive. Component B eligibility includes organizations that qualify under Section 317(k)(2) and 317(a) of the Public Health Services Act, including political subdivisions of states and other public or nonprofit private entities. The funding opportunity opened on June 23, 2022, and closed for submissions on August 15, 2022, at 11:59 PM ET. It is not a rolling grant. However, the source language indicates a strong potential for recurrence given the scale and framing of the initiative, which targets long-term transformation. All applications were to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Applications missing required documentation were automatically rejected without review. A total of $3.945 billion is allocated for this initiative, with an estimated 116 awards anticipated. The maximum award for a single applicant is $161.6 million, and the minimum is $2.925 million. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this grant. For questions or technical issues, the main point of contact is Jonathan Carlson, who can be reached at PHInfrastructure@cdc.gov.