The Center for Rural Development awards $4,500 ARC mini-grant to Lawrence County Health Department to develop a health improvement plan
The Center for Rural Development has awarded a $4,500 mini-grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to Lawrence County Health Department to create a health improvement plan.
The project, Improving Health in Lawrence County, calls for the development of a collaborative communication plan that focuses on mental health, making healthy lifestyle choices, healthy eating, physical activity, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, getting regular sleep, and oral health.
The plan also includes a Health Action Team website providing education and resources in healthcare and preventive services, obesity, and mental health. The overall goal of the project is to cultivate a healthy sustainable workforce to fuel economic growth by improving the health of Lawrence County residents.
“This grant funding is a vital step toward moving forward with projects that will change the lives of people in Southern and Eastern Kentucky,” said Lonnie Lawson, President and CEO of The Center for Rural Development. “We are making a difference throughout our communities and investing in the economic development of our region.”
The Lawrence County Health Department project was funded through The Center’s Developing and Implementing Community Strategies Program in partnership with the Department for Local Government and ARC.
Lawrence County Health Dept. director Debbie Miller explained the program to Lazer editor Mark Grayson:
“…The health department, in collaboration with the Health Action Team, recently adopted a Community Health Improvement Plan. The plan includes four priority goals:
- Access to Healthcare and Preventive Services,
- Obesity
- Fostering a Culture of Mental Health, and
- Communication.
One of the communication objectives is to create a Health Action Team website that provides education and resources for these priority areas.
The ARC mini grant will support this endeavor and we are grateful for the funding. The website will include a community calendar for health and recreation activities for adults and children. We currently have a Health Action Team Facebook page, and this will be another resource for community members to search for health events happening near them.
The website will also provide health data and bring that data to life with stories and visuals that are easy to understand and share. Our purpose is to engage community members to help make our community a place where more healthy choices are possible which will lead to improved overall community health and well-being. We anticipate the website going live by June.” –Debbie Miller
During this ARC funding cycle, The Center awarded $105,934 in federal grant funds to 13 projects in more than 15 Kentucky communities for capacity building planning and implementation projects.
Other projects to receive ARC mini-grants were AppalReD Legal Aid, $1,954; City of Corbin Parks and Recreation Department, $10,000: City of Hazard Department of Downtown Development, $10,000; City of Liberty, $8,000; Clay County Fiscal Court, $10,000; Gateway Area Development District, $10,000; Hwy 7 Community Outreach, Western Letcher County Tourism and Cultural Initiative, $7,500; Jackson County Development Association, $7,500; Jackson County Fiscal Court, $10,000; Leadership Tri-County, $6,480; Rowan County Fiscal Court, $10,000; and Tri-City Chamber of Commerce, $10,000.
The mini-grant program (sometimes referred to as the Flex-E-Grant program) is open to qualified local units of government and non-profit entities in 35 ARC-designated economically distressed counties.
Grants are subject to approval for up to $10,000, require a 20 percent match of the total project costs, and are to be completed within a six-month timeframe. Mini-grant funds are available on a reimbursement basis only.
Since 2005, The Center’s Developing and Implementing Community Strategies Program has presented more than $1.1 million in ARC funding support to distressed communities across Southern and Eastern Kentucky.
#####
Established in 1996 through the vision of U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, (KY-05), and other leaders, The Center for Rural Development is a nonprofit organization fueled by a mission to provide leadership that stimulates innovative and sustainable economic development solutions and a better way of life in Southern and Eastern Kentucky. In its 45-county primary service region, The Center provides innovative programs in leadership, public safety, technology, and arts and culture. The Center is committed to constantly expanding its capabilities in order to deliver a range of key services throughout Kentucky and the nation.
LAZER EDITOR MARK GRAYSON CONTRIBUTED TO THIS POST.
