Injury prevention capacity building in New York State: federal support played a significant role. 
Federal funds contributed substantively to an expanded infrastructure for injury prevention (IP) in New York State at all levels.  Indicators of capacity building included increased recognition of injury as a priority public health (PH) issue, enhanced interagency collaboration around IP, stimulation of planning around preventive strategies, training of more PH practitioners in IP, improved use of injury surveillance data, increased local IP projects, development of a PH approach to violence prevention, and broadened statutory authority for IP.  Practical "lessons learned" offer generalizable insights.  Specific funding strategies to support IP infrastructure and to link research with application can maximize the effectiveness of future injury capacity building efforts.