The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) aims to protect, promote, and improve the health and prosperity of all Tennesans. Recognizing the critical link between the built environment and public health, TDH is committed to supporting the development of healthy built environments that enhance physical, mental, and social well-being.
TDH's grant program, launched by the Office of Primary Prevention, focuses on funding built environment projects that promote physical activity, access to healthy food, and social interaction within Tennessee communities. Aimed at fostering a culture of health across the state, the program supports convening, programming, planning, and construction projects. These initiatives have included playgrounds, walking tracks, outdoor fitness stations, greenways, trails, and other publicly accessible spaces. Priority has been given to projects that benefit economically distressed or at-risk counties, with the goal of decreasing rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes while improving overall community health.