Active People, Healthy Nation Walkability Virtual Academy

December 11, 2022 by Nicole Masson
Community Type

Local Communities and/or Metropolitan Planning Organization Regions
(or other similar regional entities)
Request for Funding Assistance

Applications Due: January 13, 2023, by 11:59 p.m. ET to kedwards_ic@chronicdisease.org

A. PURPOSE
The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD), in collaboration with the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion (NCCDPHP) Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO), seeks applications
from local communities and/or Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) regions [or other similar
regional entities] for competitive funding assistance to support attendance at NACDD/CDC’s Active
People, Healthy NationSM National Walkability Virtual Academy (WVA). The below alternatively named
MPO equivalents for “other similar regional entities” include the following:
• Rural Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPO)
• Transportation Planning Organizations (TPO)
• Regional Councils of Governments (RCOG)
• Transportation Management Agences (TMA), etc.
The purpose of this opportunity is to engage and prepare up to eight interdisciplinary teams from local
communities and/or MPO regions (or other similar regional entities) to pursue policy, systems, and
environmental (PSE) supports for improved walkability and movability. This virtual academy will
provide teams with the most up-to-date academic and applied learning methods and will reinforce and
support implementation of significant national public health policy statements promoting walking and
walkability, such as the The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition; Step It Up! Surgeon
General’s Call to Action (SG CTA) to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities (SGCTA); Community
Preventive Services Task Force’s Built Environment Recommendations; and the CDC’s Active People,
Healthy Nation Community Design for Physical Activity strategy, which consists of combining activityfriendly routes to everyday destinations, including identifying opportunities for community design
improvements for people with disabilities. NACDD and CDC are interested in applicant interdisciplinary
teams who can commit to all project deliverables outlined in this request for funding assistance (RFA)
and produce measurable PSE outcomes after attending the virtual academy.

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2023 Walkability Virtual Academy RFA (RFA last updated on 11/16/22)
B. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Regular physical activity can lead to reductions in chronic disease risk and burden. Walking is an easy,
cost-efficient, and common form of physical activity that can help many more people meet The Physical
Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd Edition and obtain health benefits. Walkable communities make
it easier for people of all ages and abilities to be active by increasing access to safe and convenient
places to walk or move with assistive devices such as wheelchairs and walkers. Improved walkability
and movability can make communities safer, support social cohesion, reduce air pollution, and benefit
local economies, as well as serve to help all users move and navigate communities to everyday
destinations such as homes, workplaces, schools, parks, healthcare, and food outlets. To promote
walking and walkability throughout the country, NACDD and CDC will partner with up to eight local
communities and/or MPO regions (or other similar regional entities) to achieve PSE outcomes that
support community design for physical activity by creating proximity to everyday destinations
connected by safer and more accessible pedestrian, bicycle, and transit transportation networks for
people of all ages, abilities, races, ethnicities, incomes, background, abilities, and disabilities.
NACDD seeks collaborative applications from up to eight local communities and/or MPO regions (or
other similar regional entities) within any state except for the states of Louisiana, Michigan, or South
Carolina since these states are hosting a state-specific walkability course in the upcoming year.
Communities or MPOs from these states who are interested in learning more about the opportunity in
their respective state should contact Karma Edwards at kedwards_ic@chronicdisease.org.
NACDD will provide funding in the amount of $5,000 each for up to eight interdisciplinary local
community and/or MPO regional teams to attend the Active People, Healthy Nation National WVA with
NACDD, CDC, and an expert course faculty team.
All members of the teams selected must commit to participate in each of the following project
activities:
• Attend a pre-course webinar (mandatory for Team Leads and optional for additional team
members) to learn about course expectations and pre-course homework activities;
• Attend 100% of the virtual academy sessions;
• Develop a team action plan inclusive of evidence-based PSE strategies for improving walkability,
movability, and community design (land use or transportation design); and
• Begin implementation of action plan strategies.
Applicant teams must include at least four, but no more than six, local or regional team members.
Either the required public health representative or the required MPO/planning representative for each
regional team will assume the role of Team Lead, representing the team and serving as a primary pointof-contact for NACDD throughout the project. (Please refer to Section C below for more details on the
“required” and “additional” team make-up). In addition to overseeing team participation in project
activities listed above, Team Leads must also commit to:

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2023 Walkability Virtual Academy RFA (RFA last updated on 11/16/22)
• Participating in the pre-course webinar orientation call with NACDD;
• Assisting NACDD with completing Team Contact Charts and Team Bios for the course booklets
in advance of the academy; and
• Assisting NACDD with progress reporting activities.
The virtual academy will provide applied learning and skill-building instruction to support achievement
of related PSE strategies for increasing walkability and movability including design and infrastructure
improvements. This institute will be facilitated by a nationally renowned cadre of faculty within a
structured, team-based, and practical learning atmosphere. The virtual academy will occur via the
Zoom meeting platform.
As noted above, each of the eight attending teams will receive funding in the amount of $5,000. If a
team should not attend 100% of the academy or fulfill the WVA deliverables set forth in this RFA and
corresponding appendices, the total amount of the paid funds must be returned to NACDD within 15
business days of notification to NACDD. Funds may be used for:
• Support for interdisciplinary team meetings
• Support for WVA interdisciplinary team attendance and required homework activities
• Seed money for Team Action Plan implementation of PSE strategies, tactical urbanism, or popup demonstration projects
C. ELIGIBILITY and TEAM MAKE-UP
Eligible applicants for this RFA include interdisciplinary teams from local communities and/or
geographical regions represented by MPOs (or other similar regional entities) to implement PSE
supports for walkability/movability and walkable/movable communities. Interdisciplinary teams from
local communities and/or MPO regions located in the three states of Louisiana, Michigan, and South
Carolina are not eligible to apply for the 2023 WVA since these states are hosting a state-specific
walkability course in the upcoming year. Communities or MPOs from these states who are interested
in learning more about the opportunity in their respective state should contact Karma Edwards at
kedwards_ic@chronicdisease.org.
Preferred teams will include four-to-six individuals each, with four of the prospective team members
representing the following required team positions:
• Public Health representative at the local or regional level
• MPO (or other similar regional entity) planning representative in the applicant region:
o For local team applicants, it is preferred that the required planning position be the MPO
representative if the local community is part of an MPO region. If the local community
is not part of an MPO region, then the planning representative can be a city/county
planner or satisfy the position based on the corresponding position descriptions for
required and additional team members in Appendix A.
• Transportation representative (preferably in engineering) at the local or regional Department
of Transportation or Public Works, or otherwise affiliated with the MPO (or other similar
regional entity) region

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2023 Walkability Virtual Academy RFA (RFA last updated on 11/16/22)
• Elected official in the applicant region with voting, programmatic, or policy decision-making
capabilities pertaining to walkability and active transportation, active living, community
development/redevelopment, healthy community design, and/or transportation design
Additional team member(s) (for teams applying with five or six total team members) could represent
any of the following partner disciplines from the region:
• Business/Industry
• Economic Development
• Education
• Parks, Recreation, and Trails
• Public Housing
• Public Transit
• Law enforcement
• Volunteer/nonprofit walkability-related advocacy organizations or foundations
• Representatives from underserved groups, such as racial/ethnic minority groups, persons with
disability and/or disability groups, etc.
• Others (please note that applicants are expected to explain in the application justification
section the involvement of additional disciplines not listed here)
It is strongly recommended that the transportation professional or one of the other members (for
example, the “required” elected official or the “additional” team member) have an engineering
background and/or infrastructure-focused responsibility such as a public works director. In the past,
teams including engineering and/or public works expertise and perspective on the team have benefited
greatly. Although it is not required, it is strongly encouraged as teams including someone in this type
of position will be assessed more favorably during the review process.
Priority in scoring and selection will be given to applicant teams who adhere to this team make-up
criteria. Applicant teams with less than the minimum of four required representatives or with more
than the total number of six team members will not be accepted.
NACDD will make team selections based upon the successful combination of the following criteria:
• Strength and diversity of team make-up, as outlined above
• Demonstrated community need and opportunities for active transportation improvements
• Demonstrated level of community interest and engagement on this topic
• Ability and intent to focus on underserved population groups and locations
• Geographic and population diversity across the country
Applicants are encouraged to consider past, current, and potential for future collaboration as well as
anticipated level of influence to improve walkability and movability at population levels when
developing their team. Each applicant team should have a designated Team Lead to serve as a primary
point-of-contact for NACDD throughout the project. This must either be the Public Health or
MPO/planning representative from the local or regional team. Applicants who fail to develop the
required team make-up will not be considered for funding. The team must be in place at the time of

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2023 Walkability Virtual Academy RFA (RFA last updated on 11/16/22)
application submission no later than January 13, 2023. Please see Appendix A for descriptions of the
required and additional team members listed above. View a searchable list of established MPOs in the
United States
Applicant local or regional teams who previously applied for and were selected to attend the
Walkability Action Institute (WAI)/WVA in previous years are not eligible to apply. However, any team
who previously applied for the WAI/WVA, but were not selected, are both eligible and encouraged to
submit another application for the current year if they are located in one of the eligible states.
D. ANTICIPATED TIMELINE and DESCRIPTION
The anticipated project timeline and description is detailed in Appendix B. Team selection notices will
be announced by January 30, 2023 (anticipated), for a project period beginning on February 8, 2023
(or the date of notice of selection) and ending on June 2, 2023 (the due date for Team Action Plans).
NACDD has established a Walkability Community of Practice (CoP) virtual peer alumni group that all
participant WVA teams will have the ability to join and participate in for additional learning and peerto-peer support around the topics of walkability, movability, and community design (land use or
transportation design) implementation. NACDD will also share a progress reporting mechanism for
Team Leads to report on team action plan outcomes beyond the current project year.
E. PROJECT DELIVERABLES
The required Active People, Healthy Nation WVA project deliverablesfor the local community and/or
MPO regional teams (or other similar regional entities) are listed below.
Deliverables to be achieved during application process:
• Appointment of a local or regional Public Health representative to the applicant local
community and/or MPO regional team (required)
• Appointment of an MPO/planning (or other similar regional entity) representative to the local
community and/or MPO regional team (required)
• Designation of the Team Lead (either the public health or planning representative) to serve as
a primary point-of-contact for NACDD throughout the project process (required)
• Appointment of a local or regional Transportation representative (preferably in engineering)
affiliated with the local community and/or MPO regional team (required)
• Appointment of an elected official for the local community and/or MPO regional team
(required)
• Appointment of one or two additional team members per Section C and Appendix A (optional)
Deliverables to be achieved upon notice of award and throughout project:
• Team Leads (required) and team members (optional) to participate in one project orientation
call with NACDD on February 8, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET to learn about related
logistics and requirements, institute expectations, interdisciplinary team approach to training,
pre-course team assignments, and implementation options

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2023 Walkability Virtual Academy RFA (RFA last updated on 11/16/22)
• Complete and submit all pre-course homework assignments and related paperwork as detailed
in the large group orientation call to NACDD by specified deadlines
• Participate in 100% of the sessions of the the WVA via the Zoom meeting platform
• Complete individual and overall course evaluations for the virtual academy
• Develop a team action plan by June 2, 2023, including short- and long-term outcomes, inclusive
of at least one (ideally more than one) PSE outcome to support improved walkability and
movability through community design (land use or transportation design) strategies as outlined
by the SG CTA and/or the Community Preventive Services Task Force (NACDD will provide
related action plan template and training)
o Sample implementation strategies are described in Appendix C
• Optional and ongoing participation in NACDD’s Walkability Alumni CoP group beginning with
the June 20, 2023 session and beyond (bi-monthly) to foster ongoing peer engagement, sharing
and learning, and provision of targeted technical assistance for implementation of outcomes
• Participate in annual progress reporting to NACDD once team action plans are developed and
submitted; NACDD will establish online annual progress reporting schedule
F. APPLICATION SUBMISSION PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS
Collaborative applications for this RFA must include the RFA Application Form AND a Letter of
Commitment from each team member indicating commitment for all aspects of the WVA project
period (not just attendance in the WVA sessions). Application forms submitted without the
accompanying letters of commitment will NOT be reviewed.
The RFA Application Form will consist of a multi-page, writable Word document with scoring sections
and will include the components and specifications listed below. The scored components of the
application cannot exceed four total pages:
• Designated space on the cover page(s) must identify the names and contact information of the
Public Health representative, MPO/planning representative, applicant team’s fiscal agent, and
all additional team members. Applicant teams must also indicate the Team Lead in designated
space on the cover page(s) (required component; not scored; does not count towards the page
limit).
• The scored components of the application form must not exceed four pages. It must be 1.5 or
double-spaced, and must be typed using Calibri, size 11 or 12 font (required component; scored,
does count towards page limit).
• The signature sheet of the application form must be signed by the Public Health and
MPO/planning representatives for the application to be considered complete (required
component; not scored; does not count towards the page limit).
Applications not using the appropriate form, or applications without all sections completed, will NOT
be reviewed.
All Letters of Commitment must be submitted with the RFA Application Form, indicating full
commitment and participation from each team member in all project processes and activities in
collaboration with each other and NACDD:

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2023 Walkability Virtual Academy RFA (RFA last updated on 11/16/22)
• One Letter of Commitment from each team member on each team member’s respective agency
letterhead. The letter must demonstrate the following:
o Commitment to collaborate throughout the project
o Commitment to accomplish the stated project deliverables (Section E) and within the
project’s anticipated timeline (Appendix B)
o Commitment to ongoing collaboration and long-term implementation of PSE action plan
strategies beyond the project period to make the local community and/or region more
walkable and movable
o Commitment to work closely with NACDD and the Team Lead throughout the project,
including assisting the Team Lead with progress report activities as outlined in Section E
and Appendix B
The letters of commitment do not count towards the page limit.
• In addition to the items listed above, the Team Lead must additionally commit to the following
in their Letter of Commitment:
o Serving as the primary point-of-contact for NACDD
o Distributing all relevant materials for the course—before, during, and after the course
o Assisting NACDD with all necessary paperwork in advance of the course
o Establishing the team action plan by June 2, 2023
o Providing NACDD with progress reporting of established working agreement and
implementation process
o Commitment to return the paid funds within 15 business days of notification to NACDD
if the team does not attend the virtual academy or satisfy other required deliverables
In one email message, please attach the following and send via email to Karma Edwards by 11:59 p.m.
ET on January 13, 2023, kedwards_ic@chronicdisease.org:
• One PDF document consisting of both the RFA Application Form and the required letters of
commitment
• Hard copy and fax applications will not be accepted
• Please use the following subject line for your message:
o WVA 2023 (insert name of applicant local community or MPO region) (insert name of
state) RFA
o Example: WVA 2023 Alpha Beta Region, NC RFA
All applications sent by the deadline will receive an NACDD email acknowledging receipt of application.
Applications submitted after 11:59 p.m. ET on January 13, 2023, will not be reviewed.
G. SELECTION PROCESS
Local community and/or MPO regional team applicants (or other similar regional entities) must
demonstrate how they will participate in the project’s required deliverables as described in section E,
their capacity and commitment to implement one or more suggested implementation strategies

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2023 Walkability Virtual Academy RFA (RFA last updated on 11/16/22)
(subjective level of readiness examples provided in Appendix D) within their respective region, and how
soon their team can move towards PSE implementation.
All applications will be scored and reviewed by representatives of CDC, NACDD, members of the original
Course Steering Committee, and project partners and/or faculty members. The selection committee
reserves the right to select local and/or regional teams who demonstrate increased readiness for
implementation.
H. NACDD COMMITMENT
NACDD commits to providing regular and consistent communication, consultation, and project
assistance and support to team awardees via email, one-on-one conference calls, WVA sessions, and
linkages to national expertise in accordance with the deliverables described in Section E and per the
request of team awardees.
I. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS RFA
• Download the RFA, RFA Application Form, and corresponding RFA Appendices, and view a list
of frequently asked questions (FAQ) (to be updated throughout the application process) on the
NACDD Walkability Action Institute website.
• To view a sample agenda of expected course structure, dates, and times, please see Appendix
E. (Please note that this sample agenda is not the final 2023 WVA agenda).
• For questions about this RFA application process, please first check the FAQ questions for your
answer.
o If you do not see your question and answer on the FAQs, you may then email Karma
Edwards, NACDD’s Walkability Project Lead, at kedwards_ic@chronicdisease.org. All
submitted questions will be compiled and answered within two business days on the
FAQ list and updated to the website.
• For more information on:
o CDC DNPAO Programs and efforts
o CDC DNPAO Physical Activity efforts
o CDC DNPAO’s Active People, Healthy Nation
o NACDD
o U.S. SG CTA released in September 2015
o Guide to Community Preventtive Services (The Community Guide)
o The Community Preventive Services Task Force
§ The Community Preventive Services Task Force’s Built Environment
Recommendations
§ The Community Preventive Services Task Force’s Findings and Rationale
Statement, with attention to Tables 1 and 2 on page 3