Grants of up to $10,000 available for Kentucky communities to fight colon cancer; applications are due July 15

The Colon Cancer Prevention Project has a new "Project Innovation" grant program to help fund local innovative ideas to get more people screened for colon cancer in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

Kentucky ranks first in colon-cancer diagnoses and fourth in colon-cancer deaths. It is estimated that 60 percent of deaths from colon cancer could be prevented if everyone were screened at age 50, according to the project's website.

The project, based in Louisville, is a partner in the national initiative to increase colon screening rates to 80 percent by 2018 and hopes to reach this goal by expanding into new communities through volunteer participation.

With this goal in mind, the project is offering up to $10,000 in grants to help individuals lead efforts to raise awareness in their communities about colon cancer and educate people about the importance of screening. The number of approved projects and the amount of funding will depend on the number of applications received and the perceived effectiveness of the project.

Anyone who creates a project to support the expansion of the Colon Cancer Prevention Project that will serve Kentucky or Southern Indiana can apply.

Projects should target African Americans or rural areas of Kentucky and Appalachia. Preference will be given to projects that focus on these counties: Whitley, Knox, Bell, Clay, Madison, Fleming, Morgan, Martin, Pike, Hopkins and Hardin. However, all applications will be considered.

Project requirements can be found online and applications will be accepted through July 15. For more information and access to the application, click here: http://coloncancerpreventionproject.org/help-kick-butt/project-innovation/

Grant will fund Lexington signs, maps to encourage walking

A $182,000 grant will fund a pilot project in Lexington to encourage citizens to walk more, by erecting way-finding signs for pedestrians and updating walking maps.

The new Walk Lexington program will also feature signs that tell people how easy it is to get from one spot to another such as "It's only two minutes to the library." The signs are used to help people realize that walking is often faster than driving.

The grant is from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which awards grants to programs in cities where the Knight brothers once owned newspapers, including the Lexington Herald-Leader.

A Herald-Leader report on the grant indicted that the recipient is the NoLi Community Development Corp., a nonprofit trying to make the North Limestone corridor a more livable place, through the Blue Grass Community Foundation, which announced it.

As part of UK campus food deal, Aramark puts up $5 million for Food Connection, vows to purchase Kentucky products

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

The University of Kentucky has entered a $5 million public-private partnership designed to promote the study and research of food at UK and to promote local food in the state.

L-R: Aramark President and CEO Eric Foss, UK President Eli
Capilouto. Agriculture Commissioner James Comer; College of
Agriculture, Food & Environment Dean Nancy Cox (UK photo)

UK President Eli Capilouto called the Food Connection an "unprecedented public-private partnership" between the university and food-service giant Aramark, which is putting up the money and getting the campus food contract. It will be housed in UK's College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

Capilouto said the partnership is in various stages of development, including improving facilities, adding high-quality, healthy food options, and providing a greater commitment to Kentucky farmers.

"This partnership is more than just brick and mortar, it's more than simply menus and venues. It's about people," Capilouto said, including learning and research for students.

The Food Connection will partner with the state Department of Agriculture, farmers, community partners, and consumers to enhance the production, distribution, and consumption of local products and those with the Kentucky Proud label.

Aramark's $5 million includes $1 million to endow undergraduate and graduate internships and fellowships, $250,000 in one-time start-up costs for equipment and programmatic needs, and $250,000 a year for 15 years for staff, programming, research grants, and other initiatives.

"Our goal is to make sure that we create a sustainable, healthy and a successful food economy here in Kentucky for generations to come," Aramark CEO Eric Foss said.

State Agriculture Commissioner James Comer said, "This project today is going to have a significant impact on the agriculture economy in Kentucky."

UK will break ground next week on the space designated for the Food Connection facility, near the library where some old fraternity houses have been demolished.

Scott Smith, former dean of the College of Agriculture, will be the interim faculty director of the Food Connection. Dean Nancy Cox said that while the "vision and framework is in place" for the Food Connection related to research opportunities, "This new chapter is yet to be written on exactly what we do at the Connection."

A UK press release said the Food Connection will have programming, such as an annual Kentucky food summit and programs for youth.