The Value of Microgrants for Community-based Health Promotion: Two Models for Practice and Policy Kari A. Hartwig, Mary Bobbitt-Cooke, Margot M. Zaharek, Susan Nappi, Randolph F. Wykoff, and David L. Katz  I n 2001, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in the US Department of Health and Human Services announced its intention to (1) identify innovative ways to increase public awareness and focus on Healthy People 2010 objectives and (2) broaden the participation of community-based organizations, including agencies new to public health. The mechanism selected, microfinancing, was modeled after small venture loans for economic stimulus in developing countries. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion selected one state health department and one academic research organization from 80 applicants to test models of awarding “microgrants” of $2,010 to community agencies. This article describes the two models, the types of agencies that were funded, the primary Healthy People 2010 objectives targeted, examples of how the monies were used and leveraged by grantees, and the implications of microgrants for public health practice and policy. KEY WORDS: coalitions, Healthy People 2010, health promotion, microgrants, public health management, public health practice In recent years, the Institute of Medicine has released reports emphasizing the important role both of schools of public health and state and city public health insti- tutions to work in partnership with each other and lo- cal community agencies in promoting the health of the public. 1–3 Making public health practice and promotion accessible to the general public is an important role for both academic and public agencies. Healthy People 2010 (HP 2010) 4 sets national targets to eliminate health dis- parities and reduce disease and disability for all public health agencies to follow as a guide. Despite its promi- nence in national forums, HP 2010 has less visibility at local community levels. J Public Health Management Practice, 2006, 12(1), 90–96 C  2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. In 2001, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in the US Department of Health and Human Services announced its intention to (1) identify innova- tive ways to increase public awareness and focus on HP 2010 objectives and the Leading Health Indicators and (2) broaden the participation of community-based or- ganizations (CBOs), including agencies new to public health. 5 The mechanism selected, microfinancing, was modeled after small venture loans for economic stim- ulus in developing countries, which provide “micro” loans to people living below the poverty line so that they can establish and maintain their business. 6 Micro- financing institutions believe the poor do not lack abil- ity but only opportunity. Microfinancing schemes have The authors thank the staff of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, particularly Sue Martone, for her creativity and support for this pro- gram. In addition, we would like to thank Leah Devlin, North Carolina State Health Director, for her advocacy and comments; Dr Kim Pham for her vision and initiative; and Mrs Michelle LaRovera, Yale Prevention Research Center, for her technical assistance. This study was conducted with financial support from the Department of Health and Human Services, grants HPU 01002-01-0 HPU 010001-01-2. Corresponding author: Kari A. Hartwig, DrPH, School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College St, Suite 318, PO Box 208034, New Haven, CT 06520 (e-mail: Kari.hartwig@yale.edu).  Kari A. Hartwig, DrPH, is Associate Director, Community Division Yale Prevention Research Center and Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut. Mary Bobbitt-Cooke, MPH, is Director, Office of Healthy Carolinians, Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, North Carolina. Margot M. Zaharek, MS, is Nutritionist, Department of Health and Social Services in Bridgeport, CT and was formerly with the Prevention Research Center at the time of this study. Susan Nappi, MPH, is Program Director, National Community Center of Excellence in Women’s Health at Griffin Hospital, Derby, CT and was formerly with the Prevention Research Center at the time of this study. Randolph F. Wykoff, MH, MPH, TM, is Senior Vice President for International Operations, Project HOPE, Virginia and was former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services at the time of this project. David L. Katz, MD, MPH, is Director, Yale Prevention Research Center, Derby, Connecticut, and Associate Professor, the Yale School Public Health, New Haven, CT. 90