Building Healthy Communities

Project Title

Niagara Falls Local Food Action Plan

Grant Amount

$15,000

Priority Area

Building Healthy Communities

Date Awarded

December 16, 2016

Region

Western NY

Status

Closed

Website

www.niagara.edu

To tackle some of the underlying problems that have affected the health of neighborhoods, NYHealth launched the Healthy Neighborhoods Fund to help New York State communities become healthier and more active places.

Through this initiative, NYHealth is investing in six communities across the State in support of their efforts to increase access to healthy, affordable food; improve access to safe places where residents can exercise and be active; and connect children and adults to programs that support healthy behaviors. Although all the communities are working toward the common goal of improving the health of their residents, each community may face particular challenges. In response, NYHealth is supporting these communities with more specialized technical assistance to help them meet their objectives. In 2016, NYHealth awarded a grant to Niagara University to assist the Healthy Food, Healthy People workgroup, a member of the grantee Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative, in developing a local food action plan.

Under this grant, Niagara University helped the workgroup develop a comprehensive plan for food policies and programs to strengthen the local food system and improve the health, economy, and environment of the Niagara Falls community. Specifically, Niagara University assisted the workgroup in gaining residents’ perspectives on food needs and opportunities by developing the overall data collection and analysis strategy; identifying key stakeholders and potential participants; facilitating focus groups; and outlining an outreach plan. In addition, Niagara University used best-practices research to identify food-related policies and programs in similar communities that can be quickly replicated in the Niagara Falls region. Lastly, Niagara University provided guidance and oversight of the planning process; provided subject matter expertise; and supported the action plan’s delivery and implementation.