The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health has announced it will award Twin Falls a $250,000 Community Transformation Grant. This three-year grant provides funds and technical assistance to mobilize the community to make sustainable changes that promote healthy living for youth.
The Community Transformation Grant is awarded through the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health’s High Five initiative. High Five provides grants to communities that have demonstrated a dedication to improving the health of area youth through physical activity and access to healthy affordable foods.
Twin Falls applied for the grant in October and was chosen after a rigorous selection process, which included Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health staff visiting the city in March.
“It was clear during our visit that Twin Falls has a true passion for community health,” said Kendra Witt-Doyle, executive director of the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health. “There is a lot of positive momentum in the city and having a mayor who is a strong children’s health advocate will help ensure this grant can fund changes that will last for generations.”
The grant begins in June and runs through 2021. A collaborative process with community leaders and the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health will help determine an action plan for the grant, which is administered in two phases:
Phase 1: Planning (2019-2020)
- Establish partnerships
- Understand community assets and needs
- Develop a grant strategy
Phase 2: Funding and Execution (2020-2021)
- Implement strategy
- Leverage and build sustainable solutions
“We are very excited to receive the Community Transformation Grant,” Twin Falls Mayor Shawn Barigar said. “We look forward to working with the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health and our community partners to continue to transform Twin Falls into a healthier place in which to live, work, and play.”
For more information, contact Mandi Thompson, City of Twin Falls Grant and Community Relations Manager, at 208-735-7237. Or Kendra Witt-Doyle, Executive Director, Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health, at 986-224-3461.