ELC Funding Overview

What is the purpose of ELC Funding?

Each year, the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) Cooperative Agreement provides financial assistance to 64 recipient health departments (state, large local, and U.S. territory and affiliate health departments). This critical, flexible funding focuses on preventing and responding to infectious disease outbreaks, bolstering laboratory and epidemiologic capacity, maintaining and enhancing health information systems, and fostering cross-cutting solutions to address public health needs. The current version of the ELC Cooperative Agreement, CK19-1904, covers the 5-year period of performance of 8/1/2019 – 7/31/2024.

How are ELC Funds Awarded?

• For annual core funding, ELC recipients submit applications to request financial assistance.
  • The ELC Project Officers and other CDC subject matter experts, representing the various programs and projects, evaluate the applications to ensure proposed activities are feasible and meet requirements outlined in the ELC Guidance.
  • CDC awards funds based upon recipient need, strength of application, and the amount of funds available.
• When urgent needs arise, such as outbreaks, recipients have the ability to request supplemental funding. This method of proving financial assistance is based on recipient need and availability of funds.
• In times of emergency, such as COVID-19, ELC will issue funds based on business rules to expedite recipient access to needed financial support. After funds are awarded, ELC works with recipients to finalize workplans and budgets.

The ELC awards funds through a structure of four robust public health programs and 20 projects. The four public health programs are:

• Cross-cutting Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity
• Foodborne, Waterborne, Enteric, and Environmentally Transmitted Diseases
• Healthcare-associated Infections and Antibiotic Resistance
• Vector-borne Diseases