ZMCHD Utilizes OHIZ Grant for Neighborhood Improvements

ZANESVILLE, OH – The Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department recently held a public meeting to discuss a grant they received.

The grant is from the Ohio Health Improvement Zones, or OHIZ. OHIZ is a place-based initiative to address challenges and barriers in local neighborhoods.

Last year the Health Department conducted surveys to see what community members wanted to be improved.

“The results are back and we’re trying to get those back out to the communities,” Amanda McPeck, the Community Health Planner at the Health Department, said. “So we can share what they had to say and then we’re also trying to come up with different ideas, initiatives, and strategies to put back out into the community.”

McPeck said some of the findings were to increase lighting or implementing a community watch program.

She also identified some of the OHIZ areas they are focusing on.

“Putnam, Brighton, Eastside, and West Main are all the four areas we’re focusing on with the Ohio Health Improvement Zones grant,” McPeck said. “We have about $126,000 to put back out into the community for different projects this year.”

McPeck said this is a community led effort and they want to hear from their members. There will be 3 other community meetings to discuss the findings for the survey. If you are interested in attending one of these meetings, you can RSVP by going to the Health Departments website or by calling 740-454-9741 ext. 312.