HHS and HUD Commit to “Make Petersburg Healthy Again” by Expanding Access to Medical Care, Nutritious Foods, and Healthy Homes in the Historically Underserved City

PETERSBURG, VA — January 9, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced a commitment of agency resources to Make Petersburg Healthy Again, an initiative aimed at improving health outcomes in one of the most medically underserved cities in the United States.

HHS is partnering with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the city of Petersburg, where Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brian Christine, M.D., and HUD Secretary Scott Turner joined Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, First Lady of Virginia Suzanne Youngkin, and Petersburg Mayor Samuel Parham to announce their plans before community leaders.

“Petersburg reflects challenges facing communities nationwide,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said. “Life expectancy is low, chronic disease is high, and too many families lack basic care. The Make Petersburg Healthy Again project delivers measurable improvements where they are needed most. HHS is proud to partner with HUD and Mayor Parham, whose leadership makes this work possible.”

Average life expectancy in Petersburg is approximately 65 years, which is more than a decade shorter than the state and national averages. Nearly half of adults are obese, and the city faces some of the nation’s highest rates of prostate cancer deaths, as well as elevated mortality from heart disease and cancer. Children in Petersburg have the highest rate of asthma in Virginia. Many residents also lack easy access to grocery stores and urgent care facilities.

Initial actions of Make Petersburg Healthy Again include:

• Increasing access to urgent care in the city.
• Expanding access for Petersburg residents to fresh, healthy food based upon the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• Improving nutrition in local schools.
• Supporting environmental health improvements, including the removal of lead hazards in homes.

The Make Petersburg Healthy Again initiative is a grassroots-to-government approach that channels federal resources to local leadership to address chronic disease, access to health care, and environmental health challenges at the neighborhood level, including in Petersburg’s three Opportunity Zones created through President Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and made permanent by his Working Families Tax Cuts legislation of 2025.

“I commend Governor Youngkin for the revitalization taking place in communities across Virginia as a result of his years of strong leadership,” HUD Secretary Turner said. “HUD’s work with the Commonwealth of Virginia in Petersburg through Opportunity Zones and our Healthy Homes program reflects our broader vision to make all homes in America healthy, securing a safer future for the next generation. I appreciate HHS for their effort to Make Petersburg Healthy Again, which compliments HUD’s $4.4 million investment in healthier homes nationwide. HUD remains committed to the continual prosperity of Virginians and all Americans - one healthier community at a time.”

As part of the initiative, HUD will commit new Technical Assistance (TA) resources and meetings in Petersburg to provide tools and support for Healthy Homes grant funding. HUD staff will be on the ground locally to:

• Ensure jurisdictions understand the program’s requirements.
• Ensure HUD understands the needs and goals of the community.
• Assist in development of work plans, identifying potential partners, and achieving the best possible outcomes for families and the community at large.

Secretary Turner also announced a national Lead Hazard Reduction Capacity Building grant program Notice of Funding Opportunity of $4.4 million available to communities across the country to help them build their capacity to control lead-based paint hazards in privately owned rental and owner-occupied housing.

HHS and HUD will work closely with Petersburg Mayor Samuel Parham, local leaders, and community partners to implement targeted interventions focused on a specific census tract within the city. The program builds on Governor’ Youngkin’s Partnership for Petersburg initiative and ensures continuity of progress through coordinated federal support.

“What you are seeing today is the expansion of the Partnership for Petersburg that began four years ago and is now fully bringing in the federal government. From the leadership of Secretary Kennedy and his team at HHS, to Secretary Turner and HUD,” Governor Youngkin said. “This announcement reflects a clear and meaningful commitment to the future of Petersburg. We started this work alongside local leaders, the private sector, and the community, and together we’ve made real progress. Today builds on that success and positions us for even greater impact. With federal, state, local, and private partners aligned, the Partnership for Petersburg is stronger than ever and ready to deliver lasting improvements in health, opportunity, and quality of life for this community. Thank you to President Trump and the entire administration for your commitment to making Petersburg, and our entire nation, healthy again.”

As part of the effort, U.S. Public Health Service officers, under the leadership of Assistant Secretary Christine, will be deployed by HHS directly into the community to support hyper-local engagement and community-driven solutions.

“To Make America Healthy Again we must build up our communities,” Admiral Christine said. “Grassroots preventative health care, investigating why these diseases occur, and utilizing our best resources is the key to achieving a healthier America. The Petersburg project achieves these goals. I am proud my Public Health Service officers will play a pivotal role and that they will have boots on the ground in Petersburg. We are ready to serve our Republic and the citizens of this city.”

“Petersburg faces some of the most challenging health outcomes in Virginia, and it's our responsibility to change that,” Mayor Parham said. “By providing a network that promotes healthier eating, regular exercise, improved living conditions, and overall wellness, we can empower our citizens to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.”

“Health starts where people live,” Secretary Kennedy added. “By pairing strong local leadership with federal support, we can improve outcomes in Petersburg and scale what works across the country to Make America Healthy Again.”