Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - construction - project name west boulevard health clinic at stratford richardson ymca, charlotte, NC, mecklenburg county, NC-12 project…

Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - construction - project name west boulevard health clinic at stratford richardson ymca, charlotte, NC, mecklenburg county, NC-12 project description the stratford richardson ymca sits in the heart of an opportunity zone in critical need of long-term investment. This area of charlotte has been named one of the city's six corridors of opportunity and is deemed a "food desert" where residents have little to no access to quality fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, despite being an area with disproportionately high percentages of chronic disease, the residents of the west boulevard corridor have limited to no access to healthcare. Based on our history of building partnerships in the community, and our successful and diverse program delivery to the residents of the west boulevard corridor, we are well positioned to expand impact catered to direct community needs and response. The plan begins with providing critical access to healthcare and then developing other partnerships that will ultimately allow US to leverage roughly 18 underutilized acres to focus on initiatives dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty. Project status the ymca envisions an integrated health equity campus that is designed to address food insecurity, provide access to care and increase opportunities for youth and teens. An initial and critical element of transforming the campus is the construction of a 5,000 square foot health clinic and adjoining 2,000 square foot community health education center. The vision for an integrated health equity campus has the potential for community partnerships that could include one more of the following: a financial institution, library, retail, housing, educational/program space, food distribution, and provide opportunities for literacy, mental health, etc... The facts the west boulevard corridor playbook, completed by the city of charlotte in 2019, noted the informing the need for this initiative is the following census tract data: -social vulne rability index score of 0.96 (most vulnerable communities have a rating of 1). -home ownership rates are below 23% -median household income is $28,941 as compared to national average of $62,203 -average annual healthcare spending is $2,556 VS national average of $5,748 -population growth is expected to be 3.76% in this tract in the next 5 years, endangering the current population with displacement -16% unemployment rate within a 5-minute drive of the y working alongside our neighbors and partners, the ymca of greater charlotte is committed to break the cycle of poverty for marginalized communities by addressing food insecurity, increasing access to care and providing more opportunities for youth and teens. As an initial and critical step, the ymca of greater charlotte is offering well-positioned land on west boulevard to construct a healthcare clinic that will be a catalyst for establishing the first ymca integrated health equity campus in charlotte at the stratford richardson ymca. If awarded, taxpayer dollars would be utilized for the construction of the clinic that would be available to and accessible by all residents of the west boulevard corridor, not just ymca members. Upon completing construction, the y will collaborate with a healthcare partner to provide the medical services necessary to meet the critical health needs of the west boulevard community by providing clinical care and health education resources. Our belief is that by providing residents of the west boulevard corridor with access to care, they will be able to live happier, healthier lives, and serve as one of the tools that ultimately helps to break the cycle of poverty. The requested funding will be used toward the construction of a health clinic and community health education center. By providing much-needed access to healthcare, this facility will greatly benefit the entire community by adding a critical resource within walking distance