Community Health Projects Related to Contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Community Health Projects (CHP) Related to Contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites grant?

It is a CDC/ATSDR cooperative agreement that supports communities in taking practical, public health-focused actions when redevelopment or reuse is occurring on properties with real or suspected contamination. The program is designed to reduce harmful exposures and help create healthier, safer environments by making sure health concerns are identified and addressed during cleanup, restoration, and redevelopment.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The main goal is to prevent or reduce harmful exposures connected to contamination at sites being redeveloped or reused. The grant emphasizes integrating public health considerations into redevelopment so that health risks are understood and managed rather than overlooked during economic development or land revitalization.

What types of sites does this grant focus on?

The opportunity focuses on two closely related site types: brownfields and land reuse sites. Brownfields are properties where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. A land reuse site is any property being redeveloped for a purpose different from its former use.

How does the EPA define a brownfield?

As defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), brownfields are properties where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.

What is a "land reuse site" in this program?

A land reuse site is any property being redeveloped for a purpose different from its former use. The program treats land reuse as a public health consideration when prior uses may have left contamination that could create exposure risks during or after redevelopment.

Why does ATSDR consider this a major public health issue?

ATSDR frames contamination at brownfield and land reuse sites as widespread and ongoing, noting the EPA estimate of more than 450,000 brownfield sites across the United States. Redevelopment can improve communities, but it can also introduce or worsen exposures if legacy contamination is not properly understood and managed.

What kinds of contamination or exposure pathways are relevant to these projects?

Contamination can involve legacy chemicals or pollutants from past industrial or commercial operations. Exposure pathways mentioned include soil, dust, groundwater, surface water, indoor vapor intrusion, and outdoor air.

Is the program focused only on environmental assessment?

No. The funding is intended to support community health projects that translate site information into protective actions for residents, workers, and sensitive populations. The emphasis is on public health action and prevention of exposure, not stopping at technical assessment alone.

When should health issues be identified under this grant?

Projects are expected to either identify health issues before redevelopment begins so protections can be built into cleanup and reuse plans and/or evaluate how community health changes as redevelopment and reuse move forward.

What kinds of activities might a community health project include?

Based on the description, example activities can include assessing exposure concerns tied to proposed reuse plans, improving community understanding of site-related risks, supporting local decision-making with health-based information, and tracking or evaluating health-related indicators connected to redevelopment.

How does this program relate to equitable redevelopment and community wellbeing?

The program highlights that redevelopment decisions have direct implications for community health, particularly in neighborhoods where residents may already face multiple health and environmental burdens. It aims to make redevelopment safer and more equitable by ensuring public health considerations are part of planning and by examining health-related changes over time rather than assuming benefits automatically occur.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

It is a discretionary funding opportunity under a cooperative agreement, which generally means the awardee can expect substantial involvement or technical collaboration with CDC/ATSDR compared with a standard grant.

Who is the sponsoring agency for this opportunity?

The opportunity is administered by CDC/ATSDR (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry).

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is CDC-RFA-TS16-1602.

What is the CFDA number and category listed for this opportunity?

It falls under the health funding activity category and lists CFDA number 93.161.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include: state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; and public housing authorities, including Indian housing authorities.

How much funding is available per award?

The opportunity listed an award ceiling of $150,000.

How many awards were expected?

The opportunity indicated an expectation of four awards.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

It was posted and created on May 3, 2016, and had a closing date of July 5, 2016.

What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to achieve for communities?

The program aims to reduce harmful exposures, protect residents during periods of redevelopment-related change, and ensure cleanup and redevelopment decisions are informed by health concerns both before and after redevelopment activities occur.

Why does the program emphasize timing and tracking change over time?

The program stresses that identifying health issues early can allow protections to be built into cleanup and reuse plans. It also supports evaluating how community health changes as redevelopment proceeds, so impacts are examined with health-related indicators rather than assumed.