Grants up to $10K available for organizations improving Carolina heart health

The American Heart Association, along with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, is working to improve heart health among North Carolina’s most at-risk populations.

Part of this health initiative includes a call for mini-grant applications from communities working to promote heart health in the Triangle (Wake, Durham and Orange counties), Triad (Guilford and Forsyth counties), and Charlotte (Mecklenburg, Gaston and Union counties).

This is the second round of mini-grants to be awarded this year by the organizations.

Community partners are encouraged to apply for mini-grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 to support heart-healthy policies and environments.

Community members, including individuals, churches, senior centers, community health centers, housing authorities, historically Black colleges and universities, community colleges, city and county governments, hospitals, employers and others, are welcome to apply for mini-grants focused on community health needs, including COVID-19 relief.

Individuals or community organizations that submitted applications in the spring are encouraged to reapply.

Additionally, individuals or organizations that were awarded a community health mini-grant in the spring are welcome to submit applications focused on a different program.

To apply and for more information, interested partners should complete the English application or Spanish application. The community health mini-grant application deadline is Nov. 12, 2020.

Examples of eligible expenses could include:

· Updating kitchen equipment to make it easier to store healthy food.

· Equipment and materials for food distribution and/or food access point.

· Materials to implement chronic disease self-monitoring and care, such as a BP cuff loaner program.

· Educational materials to implement food security screenings at a meal site, community center, etc.

· Signage and promotion of heart-healthy policies.

· Offsetting the cost of a pricing incentive for healthy foods.

· Offsetting staffing expenses (salary, travel, etc.) for promoting healthier spaces.

· Strategies addressing COVID-19-related complications related to nutrition security or access to care.

· Other strategies to improve heart-healthy spaces.

In May 2020, the American Heart Association and Blue Cross NC awarded a total of 27 community health mini-grants across North Carolina, totaling more than $100,000.

Nine of these selected mini-grant awards, totaling nearly $37,000, funded community coronavirus relief efforts. This spring, a total of seven community health mini-grant awards totaling $30,000 were distributed in the Charlotte region.

If you have an inspiring story, please contact Kevin Campbell, WSOC-TV/WAXN-TV/Telemundo Charlotte Public Affairs Manager, at Kevin.Campbell@wsoctv.com.

Cox Media Group