Community Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Grant

Community Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Indiana Department of Health
Amount: Up to US $20,000
Last Updated: October 28, 2025

Summary

The Community Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Grant, offered by the Indiana Department of Health, aims to enhance public health through improved infrastructure for cycling and walking. With funding available for communities of varying sizes, this initiative encourages the development of comprehensive master plans. Key deliverables include evaluations of current networks, actionable recommendations, and public engagement, all designed to promote active living and curb chronic disease rates in Indiana. Projects should start in winter 2024 and be completed by September 2025.

Overview

Community Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Grant The Indiana State Department of Health (IDOH) Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity (DNPA) invests in partnerships and activities that work toward improving the health of all Indiana residents. The DNPA focuses on increasing healthy eating and physical activity and decreasing obesity. Poor nutrition, sedentary behaviors, and obesity are serious threats to the health, academic achievement, and productivity of Indiana’s residents. Each of these threats is linked to an increased risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, some cancers, and diabetes. Chronic disease is the leading cause of death and disability in Indiana. The adoption of bicycle and pedestrian master plans by Indiana communities is seen as an effective way to invest in changes to policy and the built environment that supports healthy community outcomes. Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Funding Overview The DNPA is providing funding to communities to assist in the preparation of community-wide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans to facilitate more active living and higher rates of physical activity in Indiana. This funding will assist in the preparation of community-wide planning activities supporting bicycle and pedestrian activities focused on three groups of community sizes. This announcement is for one round of funding. This round of funding is for projects that are anticipated to start in the winter of 2024 and be substantially complete by Sept. 30, 2025. Key deliverables of the plans will be: A formal evaluation of the existing pedestrian and bicycle network, policies, and programs.Policy and programming recommendations.Prioritized route, facility type, and maintenance recommendations, with cost analysis.Action plan recommendations for implementation of the plan for the next five years.Substantial public input is required as part of the planning process.A plan advisory committee is required with a minimum of five different community partners represented. Program Funding Grant awards will be provided based on the population within the corporate limits of the community or county covered by the plan (using the most current U.S. Census data available) as follows: Communities under 5,000 population are eligible to receive up to $20,000 in funding with no matching funds required Communities above 5,000 population are eligible to receive up to $20,000 in funding with a minimum of $20,000 matching funds required

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible Applicants:Successful applicants will be selected based on the level of readiness to plan for and implement bicycle and pedestrian improvements, as well as a willingness to consider policy, planning, and the built environment changes necessary to foster healthy and active communities. Grantees will be required to create a plan advisory committee made up of representatives from a minimum of five different community partners that support this work and formally adopt their plans as an amendment to the community’s existing comprehensive plan. Eligible applicants include incorporated communities, counties, or regional planning agencies in Indiana.Eligible planning activities include: Community-wide bicycle and pedestrian master plans Small area or neighborhood plans that promote walking and bicycling to everyday destinations such as schools, parks, shopping, medical clinics, etc. Multi-use path corridor plans that connect communities to nearby destinations such as state/regional parks or regional greenways Project acceleration plans that further define the scope, cost, and feasibility of local bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Ineligibility

The production of detailed construction documents or environmental studies are not eligible for funding.