1602-11948

Virginia: Support to the Mountain Empire Business Incubator to partner with the LENOWISCO Planning District Commission in its role as a lead convener in southwestern Virginia communities as part of the Grassroots Engagement Strategy. LENOWISCO was established in 1965 to respond to economic development needs in the central Appalachian, and maintains a guiding philosophy that economic success starts with a trained, healthy workforce. LENOWISCO (Lee, Scott, and Wise counties and the City of Norton) will continue its work to explore the intersections between economic development and oral health in Year Two – Learn/Plan/Assess. Oral Health 2020 investment of $100,000 will be used to improve the health and prosperity for residents of central Appalachia by collaborating across communities and organizations, implementing new strategies to engagement community around oral health, and learn directly from the people most impacted about the social, economic and health issues that exist in the region. This investment aligns with the Oral Health 2020 goal to improve the public perception of the value of oral health to overall health.