Health Impact Project Announces Grants for Seven Southern and Appalachian States

Seven southern and Appalachian states, including West Virginia, received Health Impact Project grants yesterday from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts to promote health in southern and Appalachian states.

The goal is to fund projects aimed at addressing health inequities in southern and Appalachian states.

Organizations in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and West Virginia each received funding. Each grantee is tasked with developing an evidence-based action plan for addressing the social, economic and environmental factors that lead to disparities in health outcomes from one population to another.

In West Virginia, Williamson Health and Wellness Center received the grant. According to the press release, the health center will try to use community-led tourism and economic development to launch new outdoor recreation businesses such as kayaking tours and biking and running competitions. The hope is to improve both employment and physical activity opportunities in Williamson.

The projects’ development is funded through October of 2016 at which time the grantees should be prepared to launch their respective initiatives.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from the Benedum Foundation.