Representatives of close to 50 local businesses were on hand for Healthier Lyon County’s Pathways for a Healthy Kansas Business Forum on Tuesday.
Healthier Lyon County grant manager Daphne Mertens says the business response was heartening as the agency works on a range of healthy community options.
At the root of the discussion was the three-year Pathways for a Healthy Kansas grant awarded to Healthier Lyon County last year. The grant offers funding for health projects in seven general categories, including community resident well-being, community policy, schools, health care, worksites, grocery and food retail and restaurants.
Mertens says the grant is starting to bear fruit as discussions continue on what’s being called Safe Routes to Healthy Food. Healthier Lyon County is working with the Emporia City Commission and the Multi-Use Path Planning Board to designate bike lanes or expand sidewalks, thus making it easier for people to go from food deserts to food sources, notably grocery stores. The ongoing food council discussion that has gained headlines the past several months is a separate talking point.
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