The Creating Healthy Schools and Communities grant, administered by the New York State Department of Health’s Division of Chronic Disease Prevention, offers a five-year funding opportunity focused on reducing chronic diseases through evidence-based strategies in nutrition and physical activity. With an annual allocation of $5,199,482 in state funding, Component A supports up to 15 community-level grantees across five defined New York State regions: Capital, Central, Metropolitan Area, New York City, and Western. This initiative aims to improve health equity by addressing the social determinants of health and systemic inequities, particularly in communities with high social vulnerability and health burdens related to obesity, diabetes, and physical inactivity.
The program targets sustainable policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes through coordinated activities in community and school settings. Required strategies include adoption of food service and nutrition guidelines in system-level organizations, expansion of fruit and vegetable incentive programs, implementation of best practices in early care and education settings, and improving community design to facilitate physical activity. School-focused components include enhancing wellness policies, increasing access to physical activity, and promoting healthy food environments. These interventions are guided by principles of health equity and racial justice, with an emphasis on community engagement and coalition-building.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and municipal governmental agencies authorized to operate in New York State and currently providing public health services in the proposed catchment area. Applicants must demonstrate operational presence in New York and have executive offices in the state. The funding supports up to $320,000 annually per grantee, and a minimum of one school district must be included in the service scope. Applicants are expected to retain at least 30% of the project budget and may subcontract remaining activities to qualified partners. Participation in a statewide Community of Practice and use of state-provided evaluation tools are also required.
Applications must be submitted via the New York State Statewide Financial System (SFS) by December 12, 2025, at 4:00 PM ET. A letter of interest and questions are due by November 5, 2025, with responses posted around November 19, 2025. The performance period is expected to begin on June 1, 2026, and continue through May 31, 2031. The grant is not automatically renewable; however, consistent annual cycles suggest a recurring structure. The Department reserves the right to adjust funding levels based on state budget appropriations.
For application guidance, interested organizations can contact Dan French, Program Manager, at bccdp.physact@health.ny.gov. Supporting documents such as the MWBE Utilization Plan, eligibility attestations, and other attachments must be submitted as part of the online application. Evaluation criteria include organizational capacity, regional need, strategy alignment, and demonstrated understanding of community-based PSE approaches to chronic disease prevention.
