Micro Grant Program To Accompany Surgeon General’s CTA For More Walkable Communities

America Walks

America Walks and the Every Body Walk! Collaborative are pleased to announce a new micro grant program designed to assist local walking advocates build on the momentum of the newly released Surgeon General’s Call to Action.   This one time award will fund 10-15 community groups up to $2500.00 for activities designed to increase local walking programming and stimulate community demand for infrastructure improvements that provide accessible, safe walkable places for the entire community. Grant applications (link below) are due by 5:00pm EDT on October 15, 2015.

A growing literature continues to document the multiple benefits of walking for individuals and the advantages of developing walkable places for communities. The strength of this evidence and the promise of these benefits have propelled walking to the top of the list of public health strategies that can prevent disease and improve population health, as indicated in the recent Surgeon General’s Call to Action on Walking and Walkability. Likewise, the conditions that support safe, routine walking also reduce injuries and deaths from avoidable automobile crashes while helping to create vibrant downtowns.

After decades of engineering dominated by the needs of the automobile, most communities do not lend themselves to safe, convenient, accessible and routine walking. Reversing past designs and creating the conditions for safe, inclusive and routine walking is complex, requires collaboration across a variety of sectors, organizations, governmental departments and takes time.   However, numerous communities and thousands of individuals are raising the publics awareness about the benefits of walking and pushing targeted strategies to create more safe walkable places.

To make and keep walking and walkability a priority in neighborhoods and communities, a strong, connected group of local activist and dedicated organizations is needed. This micro grant program is designed to assist those groups and organizations in setting priorities and implementing targeted projects to get them started.

Please Click Here to View the Application 

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