In August 2025, more than 900 public health professionals gathered in St. Louis and online for the 2025 Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) Annual Recipient Convening (ARC). Over the course of the event, the PHIG National Partners organized sessions and activities for health department recipients, CDC leaders, technical assistance providers, and other key partners to explore innovative ways to strengthen public health through workforce, data modernization, and sustainable infrastructure.  

“At ARC 2025, I saw firsthand the creativity and commitment of our public health leaders to ensure this investment translates into healthier, more resilient communities. The energy at this meeting makes me confident that the lessons and connections forged in St. Louis will ripple out across the country in meaningful and lasting ways,” said Joseph Kanter, CEO of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). 

Convening Highlights 

The 2025 ARC reaffirmed the power of PHIG to connect peers, accelerate learning, and advance infrastructure investments. ASTHO hosted this year’s event in collaboration with its PHIG Partners — the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) and the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) — and CDC.  

Health department recipients walked away from the meeting with useful tools, examples of innovation, and a new energy to keep improving the systems that safeguard their local communities. As one attendee shared, “I am so grateful for the opportunity to attend, present, and learn from other jurisdictions! I’ll be able to use what I learned in our upcoming projects this year.” 

Highlights From a Week of Knowledge in Action

The ARC featured over 60 sessions and 20 posters that showcased health department recipients’ innovative approaches to putting PHIG into action as well as their successful collaborations with technical assistance providers and other key partners.  

Over 200 participants gathered for the Data Modernization in Motion preconference at the start of the week to share lessons learned and discuss sustainability strategies through networking and panel discussions. Throughout ARC, PHIG Partners built on this momentum with sessions on how jurisdictions are modernizing data systems to support quicker, smarter decisions, from cost-effective approaches to enhancing interoperability. 

The program also included a plenary on the 2024 PH WINS survey, featuring a panel of practitioners sharing how they use PH WINS data to inform decision-making and drive change. On the mainstage, keynotes opened the meeting with reflections on hope, resilience, and caring for the public health workforce, and closed with a call to engage others through impactful storytelling and actionable data to ensure the health and safety of our families and communities.  

Peer Connections and Partner Support

Outside of sessions, ARC attendees found value in building new connections and peer support. The PHIG Partners provided space during the event where attendees could both exchange ideas and renew their sense of purpose. Following the peer networking events, an attendee noted that it was a “highlight of the conference.” Additional engagement opportunities included office hours with CDC PHIG Project Officers and Evaluators, as well as partner tables where recipients could learn about technical assistance resources and support. 

Communicating Impact 

The PHIG Partners work throughout the year to uplift stories of impact from health department recipients. During ARC, representatives of more than 20 jurisdictions and partner organizations participated in video interviews and recorded segments on ASTHO’s daily newscast. Those stories will be published on the PHIG Partner website in the coming months.  

“I left St. Louis inspired, encouraged, and motivated to keep lifting up the voices that drive real change in public health,” shared one attendee on social media.

Looking Ahead: Taking PHIG Programs to the Next Level 

Health department recipients left ARC with many clear intentions for the year ahead, including advancing workforce development, sustaining PHIG-funded programs, and amplifying the value of public health through shared evaluation and storytelling. 

As participants return to their jurisdictions with practical tools and inspiring examples, the PHIG Partners are available to provide support and technical assistance to jurisdictions as they continue to build and modernize systems that protect and serve their communities.   

To continue the important conversations from ARC, the PHIG Partners also plan to host a virtual convening on Thursday, November 13, 2025. To stay updated on the details and learn when the ARC recorded sessions and slides become available, subscribe to the PHIG Connections monthly newsletter.  

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This work was supported by funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, through OE22-2203: Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.