With funding from the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) Grant, Ringgold County Public Health recently sponsored representatives of the Judge Lewis Aquatic Center Committee to participate in a Community Health Impact Investment Workshop.
Gary and Ardith Keplinger of Mount Ayr represented the Aquatic Center Committee at a 2-day intensive training workshop held at the Center for Disease Control National Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The workshop targeted organizations that have a business concept that improves community health and generates revenue. Impact investment and public health experts supported participants in developing a business plan that can be used to pursue public and private sources for support.
Community health enterprises are businesses or activities that increase access to health products or services and generate revenue. Some types of enterprises that qualified were:
- Initiatives that make public space available for healthier lifestyle and physical activity
- Services and technology that increase health literacy
- Businesses that increase access to healthy foods such as mobile markets and food stands
- Collaborations that increase the number of bikes available to residents
- Public measures aimed at creating greenways
Workshop participants are also eligible to attend a follow-up event in Seattle, Washington. At the follow-up event, participants will be able to share and discuss their business plan/health enterprise with an audience of potential investors in a solicitation-free environment. The Keplingers have been invited to participate in this event.
