Sandpoint chosen as grant finalist

SANDPOINT — The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health announced finalists for its Community Transformation grant Tuesday and the city of Sandpoint made the list.

The foundation anticipates awarding four grants of up $250,000 to the winning cities. Nineteen cities applied for the program and seven finalists were chosen, including Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry, Coeur d'Alene, Homedale, Caldwell, Rexburg, and Plummer.

The 2017 Community Transformation Grants are designed to improve the health of Idaho youth, and the focus of the grant program is improving access to healthy affordable foods and increasing physical activity.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the city of Sandpoint to empower our partners and community heroes and provide opportunities to our youth who may otherwise not be able to take advantage of after school programs that will provide them with access to healthy foods and physical activity," said Mayor Shelby Rognstad. "It is also a stepping stone to our long-term vision of having a year-round facility where students can have a place for programming after school and during the summer."

If chosen, Sandpoint officials will begin a strategic planning process with community stakeholders and individuals committed to improving access to health foods and physical activity. Funding can be used to support enhanced program offerings like those available through the city’s parks and recreation program, infrastructure and transportation programs, as well as enhanced programs through nonprofit, business and medical partners. The planning process will determine how the funds can and should be best used.

Winners will be announced in early October and the criteria is based on community support through voting at highfiveidaho.org/vote.