Southwestern New York State Economic Plan

About

Engagement

Background & SWOT

Action Plan

Evaluation

Conclusion

Data Visuals

Full PDF Plan

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  Vibrant Communities: Health, Medical Care & EMS

​Access to reliable medical and emergency care is a vital component in creating communities that will attract new residents to southwestern New York. This makes health services a top priority for economic development, especially efforts toward talent attraction campaigns.

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OBJECTIVE 1
Reduce the incidence of chronic disease​

Action Items

• Equity lens: increase access to health screenings via remote medical clinics, mobile health units, and workplace incentives
• Prevent tobacco and other substance use
• Teach healthy eating habits and provide educational programs for all ages on food preparation
• Improve the nutritional content of school meals. Resilience lens: increase the amount of locally grown farm products used in schools
• Improve health within the workplace with dedicated exercise spaces, employee clubs and incentive programs​

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OBJECTIVE 2
 Reinforce EMS volunteer and staff organizations with funding and training and a regional effort

Action Items

• Begin convening regional stakeholders on a regular basis to form a working group
• Create regional fundraising efforts to support EMS services and training
• Collaborate on shared grant applications to increase citizen access to trainings and certifications
• Advocate for improvements to EMS regulations that would benefit rural communities whose services are diminishing

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OBJECTIVE 3
Strengthen the region's support systems for behavioral health, including mental health and substance abuse

Action Items

• Increasing training in mental health first aid for both youth and adults
• Workforce lens: Educate employers to understand mental health and provide support to their employees
• Reduce the increased load on hospital ERs by creating alternative care facilities for mental and behavioral health emergencies

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OBJECTIVE 4

Action Items

​Equity lens: increase food security and access to healthy foods by expanding local foods at food pantries, promoting SNAP, FreshConnect and Double Up programs at farmers markets, and by creating mobile markets to reach underserved areas

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OBJECTIVE 5

Action Items

Improve the long-term viability of the region's hospitals by creating regional coalitions of diverse private and public sector stakeholders, and advocating at the state and federal level for hospitals and health care access as critical to quality of life and economic development.