Lawrence County to Use Grant Funds to Create New Pavilion

THE LAWRENCE COUNTY HEALTH COUNCIL ANNOUNCED TODAY IT WILL USE A $485,000 GRANT FROM THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR A LOCALLY DESIGNED COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECT DEVOTED TO FITNESS, NUTRITION, AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS.

THE LAWRENCE COUNTY HEALTH COUNCIL WILL PARTNER WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AND USE THE GRANT AWARD TO CREATE A NEW LAWRENCEBURG SQUARE PAVILION. THE PAVILION WILL HOUSE A FARMER’S MARKET, HOST EXERCISE OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS HOST HEALTH-FOCUSED COMMUNITY CLASSES AND EVENTS.

“LAWRENCE COUNTY IS A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO GIVE TO EACH OTHER AND WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO MAKE OUR HOME A BETTER PLACE,” SAID LAWRENCEBURG MAYOR BLAKE LAY. “I’M SO GRATEFUL TO ALL THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT PARTNERED TOGETHER AND JOINED FORCES TO MAKE THE CARE GRANT A REALITY. THIS SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT WILL MOVE US ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IN REDUCING NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND MAKING OUR HISTORICAL DOWNTOWN WELCOMING AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.”

TDH’S GRANT AWARD TO LAWRENCE COUNTY IS THE RESULT OF A STATEWIDE EFFORT, CALLED COLLABORATIVE ACTION FOR RESILIENCE AND EQUITY (CARE), IN WHICH COUNTY HEALTH COUNCILS IDENTIFIED LOCAL PRIORITIES AND CREATED ACTION PLANS TO SUPPORT HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS FOR LOW-INCOME, MINORITY, AND RURAL POPULATIONS.

"WE ARE OVERJOYED WITH THE NEWS OF THIS GRANT BEING AWARDED TO THE LAWRENCE COUNTY HEALTH COUNCIL,” SAID JENNY GOLDEN, COUNCIL CHAIR. “THESE FUNDS ARE SUCH A WONDERFUL ASSET TO LAWRENCE COUNTY AND WILL BE USED TO ENHANCE THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING, AND HAPPINESS OF OUR COMMUNITY."

“WE ARE ABSOLUTELY THRILLED AND CANNOT WAIT TO WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TOWARDS A HEALTHIER LAWRENCE COUNTY,” ADDED JESSICA YOKLEY, COUNCIL MEMBER WHO SUBMITTED THE GRANT APPLICATION. “THIS FUNDING WILL BUILD THE NEEDED SPACE TO CREATE MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON OUR COUNTY’S HEALTH FOR YEARS TO COME BY PROVIDING A SPACE TO OBTAIN HEALTHY FOOD, EXERCISE, AND ENJOY FAMILY-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.”

TDH’S COUNTY HEALTH COUNCILS ARE ACTIVE IN ALL 95 TENNESSEE COUNTIES AND INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS, FROM BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS. EVERY THREE YEARS, THE HEALTH COUNCILS CONDUCT COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENTS TO IDENTIFY THE TOP PRIORITIES TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THIS YEAR, 53 TENNESSEE COUNTIES CONDUCTED LOCAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS AND IMPROVEMENT PLANS.

NEWS