About Us
Our mission
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s mission is to increase access to healthy food and physical activity, promote commercial tobacco cessation, enhance quality of life and encourage economic growth. The problems of health inequity and social injustice are complex in nature and inextricably linked to key economic indicators. A healthy workforce is a prerequisite for economic success in any industry and in all cities.
Current Projects and Initiatives
Our solution to building healthy communities is by transforming the power, building trust, and encouraging community participation. Comprehensive strategy for change includes local organizing, strategic communication, community research, creating systems, and environmental changes.
Total Grant Funds Awarded Since 2016: $1,569,175
Current Funding Sources
Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways to Healthy Kansas
USDA Rural Business Development Grant
UMB Bank
Anonymous Donor
Our Staff and Board of Directors
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Board consist of a cross sector of community organizations, business, and governmental entities:
Jody Hoener, President and CEO, Ex Officio
Rachel Carpenter, Director
Josh Jones (Chair), City Commissioner of Fort Scott
Lindsay Madison (Treasurer), President and CEO Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
Alysia Johnston, President Fort Scott Community College
Kayla Stewart (Secretary), RN Coordinator Via Christi
Alex Barner, Business Owner and Entrepreneur
Kelly Perry, Business Owner and Entrepreneur and City of Bronson Council Member
Our history
In 2016, the HBCAT began as a joint effort between City of Fort Scott Economic Development and Mercy Health System’s Community Benefit. The action team applied for grant funding through the BCBS KS Pathways to Healthy Kansas Grant and was subsequently awarded. The committee was comprised of community leaders who were in positions of authority or influence in order to execute policy change. Mercy Health Systems served as the fiscal agent and the action plan mirrored the community health improvement plan.
Since 2016, our work has been broadly recognized and modeled through the state of Kansas. Jody Hoener, leader of the HBCAT since inception, was awarded the Governor’s Council on Fitness Kansas Health Champion honoree in 2019. Our work was also recognized with the prestigious Kansas State of Wellness Community Champion Award in May 2018. The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team initiative has been identified by the Kansas Hospital Association and Kansas Health Institute as a leader in the field and used in a toolbox for Kansas hospitals as an example of best practice approaches to address community health.
The HBCAT has gained momentum and continuous support since 2016, growing from a subcommittee of the Fort Scott Visioning Committee to our own Non-Profit 501 C 3 Corporation with two full time employees in just five years.
Center for Economic Growth
Center for Economic Growth
Center for Economic Growth
Bourbon County residents can meet with Dacia Clark, Assistant Director with Pittsburg State Small Business Development Center (PSU SBDC) in Downtown Fort Scott. Dacia provides a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and resources to help individuals get started on the right path. Whether in person or online, PSU SBDC is helping entrepreneurs with starting a new business or new product, growing sales, running a business, protecting business, and succession planning every day.
In addition, Southeast KANSASWORKS, the Local Workforce Development Board that serves 17 counties in Southeast Kansas, will be available in person five days a week. Southeast KANSASWORKS contributes to economic growth and business expansion by ensuring the workforce system is job-driven and matching employers with skilled individuals.
Employers and job seekers alike benefit from services provided by Southeast KANSASWORKS which include free online job listings, labor market information, pre-employment testing, work opportunities tax credits, pre-screen applicants, recruiting services, federal bonding, interview space, youth programs, and more.
Center for Economic Growth
Center for Economic Growth
Center for Economic Growth
WEDNESDAY,
April 5th, 2023
5:30 PM CDT
HBCAT Headquarters
104 North National
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Free Dinner and childcare!!
CALLING WOMEN OF ALL AGES
IN THE FORT SCOTT, BOURBON COUNTY & THE AREA
WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP SERIES
DARE TO DREAM
Together, through The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s Center for Economic Growth, PSU Small Business Development Center, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and Perry’s Pork Rinds are offering a series of seminars to support women entrepreneurs!
Women supporting women!
We weren't all born into families with businesses to teach us the ropes on business! We are here to help connect you with women leaders to learn from their successes and failures--and to develop relationships into mentoring!!
Get to know local business women who want to help you succeed!
REGISTER HERE:
https://www.eventbrite.com/.../dare-to-dream-marketing-20...
Childcare available but registration required!
Dinner and networking from 5:30pm-6pm
The program will begin right at 6pm
Dinner is sponsored and catered by local business!
Upcoming Events
Center for Economic Growth
Upcoming Events
HBCAT Grant Ceremony
Grant Cycle 3:
3 Farmer/Rancher Grants ($10,000)
The Shire, LLC (Bradie and Noah Terry)
Still Waters Farm, LLC (Katie and Ethan Holly)
Little Osage Greenhouse LLC (Mike and Lori Hueston)
3 Restaurant/Food Retail ($7,000)
110 S Main LLC (Kathy Dancer)
Sharkys (David Lipe)
La Hacienda (Mirna Santana)
6 Start up Grants ($5,000)
The Beauty Lounge (Tuker Ross)
The Hamilton’s Artisan Bakery (Teresa Hamilton)
Little Blessings (Kelcy Schnauffer)
The Baby Stitch (Sami Rogers)
Erika George Photography (Erika George)
The Kitchen (Angela Simon, Rachel French, Bailey Lyons)
Total: $81,000
HBCAT Grant Ceremony Tickets, Wed, Mar 22, 2023 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite