Plan4Health Summer 2015 Update

 

Work continues on the Plan4Health community grant. Awarded to a handful of communities across the county, Plan4Health aims to connect communities by funding work at the intersection of planning and public health. Anchored by American Planning Association (APA) Chapters and American Public Health Association (APHA) Affiliates, Plan4Health supports creative partnerships to build sustainable, cross-sector coalitions. The Kenton County Plan4Health Coalition (KCP4H) is working to provide access to nutritious food across the county. Current efforts include a county-wide assessment of food deserts, underserved neighborhoods with little to no access to healthy food due to mobility, availability, affordability, or a combination of the three. The assessment found a handful of underserved areas located in the urban areas of the county.

Following the assessment, work has begun on a Corner Store Initiative that focuses on increasing the supply of nutritious food options in the urban areas of the county. The program provides stores owners with a number of financial and marking incentives used accommodate and market healthy food options to customers. Incentives may include the provision of new equipment or retrofitting the existing layout of the store to accommodate healthy food options. The coalitions is currently in the process of approaching targeted store location and owners in the most underserved areas of the county.

Kenton County Plan4Health is excited to connect with community members. If you live in Covington, please reach out to learn more about the project. If you would like to change the corner store offering in your neighborhood, reach out to your local food policy council or planning department to find out more about what’s happening in your area.

To learn more about Kenton County Plan4Health and all coalitions participating in Plan4Health, check out the project website (www.plan4health.us) and join the national conversation at the intersection of planning and public health on social media by using and following #plan4health.