Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge

Posted by Aetna Foundation on April 25, 2016

Aetna Foundation Announces Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge

The Aetna Foundation, in partnership with the American Public Health Association, the National Association of Counties, and CEOs for Cities, is accepting applications from small to mid-sized cities, counties and federally recognized tribes in the U.S. working to improve the health of their residents.

The goal of the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge is to develop practical, evidence-based strategies that improve measurable health outcomes and promote health and wellness, equity, and social interaction. Through the challenge, the foundation will award more than $1.5 million in grants in support of community-based efforts to become healthier places to live, work, learn, play, and pray; recognize excellence in achieving a measurable impact as a result of these efforts; and identify models of effective collaboration that can be sustained and replicated across the United States.

The lead applicant must be a representative of any small- to medium-sized city or county government, federally recognized tribal leader, nongovernmental organization, academic institution, local business, or private sector organization that can effectively engage with all relevant partners. Prospective applicants from a single city, county, or federally recognized tribe are encouraged to collaborate and submit a joint application in the appropriate tier with a single lead entity identified.

Phase 1 applications must be received no later than May 31, 2016. Upon review, selected applicants will move on to Phase 2 of the challenge. At the beginning of Phase 2, all cities, counties or federally recognized tribes selected as finalists will receive a community seed grant of $10,000 to help move their project, program, or policy forward. In addition, several midterm progress awards will be made during Phase 2. Community seed grants and progress awards can be used in Phase 2 to support staff or other infrastructure identified as essential to the program. One grand prize and four runners-up prizes will be awarded within each of two tiers, based on population, with Tier 1 comprising cities or counties with a population of 65,000 to 250,000 population, and Tier 2 comprising cities or counties with a population of 250,001 to 600,000. The Tier 1 Grand Prize winner will receive $250,000, with the Runners Up receiving $25,000 each, while the Tier 2 Grand Prize winner will receive $500,000, with the Runners Up receiving $50,000 each.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge website.

DEADLINE: MAY 31, 2016 (PHASE 1 APPLICATIONS)

http://www.healthiestcities.org/