Established by the One Great Community (OGC) in 2012, the Community Health Innovation Awards (CHIA) is an annual grant competition that challenges local 501(c)(3)s to brainstorm bold and creative solutions to community health issues. Select participants not only receive $5,000-$25,000 in grant money, but also the chance to work in partnership with some of the best minds in the Birmingham area to bring a project to fruition.

The first step is registering for the Innovation Workshop that will take place on September 17, 2016, at UAB’s Edge of Chaos. “All CHIA applicants must attend this workshop,” said OGC Program Director Dr. Shauntice Allen. “Activities include learning more about the award process, understanding innovation, and practicing new ways of thinking about and solving community problems.” Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

The second phase of the awards process involves developing a project proposal, which must be submitted by Monday, Oct. 17th. An external teams then reviews and scores proposals. Those ideas that strongly demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the awards criteria move forward in the competition. These applicants will be invited to participate in the Refinement Workshop on Nov. 5th where they will review draft proposal feedback and prepare for the final phase of the competition.

The last phase of the competition requires submission of the final project proposal and a 10-minute presentation of the project idea to a panel of judges. The entire process is capped by an awards ceremony, which this year will not only honor the 2016 recipients but also celebrate the fifth anniversary of the CHIAs.

“This is a unique opportunity for participants to creatively tackle problems that affect the entire Birmingham community,” concluded Dr. Allen. “They will collaborate with experts from academia and business, who will help them design, develop, and implement their innovative health ideas.”

Those interested in applying for the 2016 CHIA can find additional information and register here. Applications must be received by close of business Wednesday, September 14. Questions? Visit our CHIA page or email the CHIA Project Team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Did You Know? OCG is the community engagement component of the CCTS. Its goal is to connect basic science and clinical researchers with the multiple communities they serve to ensure their research efforts respond to and reflect the needs of the community via an active process of community involvement, dialogue, and mutual understanding. To learn more, visit our CCTS Community page.