Greenwood Community Development Corporation

PROJECT PURPOSE

The Covid19 pandemic has challenged the global economy, societies, and everyday lives and this has been the experience of the North Tulsa community of which the Greenwood District is the cultural heart. With a predominately African-American population and pockets of Hispanic and Native-American populations, the impact of the pandemic has been especially devastating as rates of infection and mortality has been high among these ethnic and socio-economic groups. Several factors limit our communities' ability to respond to this crisis and our new Greenwood Community Health Center (Covid19 Testing) is designed to address these immediate needs while also being the first step in establishing a permanent Community Health Center for preventative health support, routine testing and paths to health education and resources. The Center will be attached to the Women's Business Center at 100 N. Greenwood Avenue. The program will begin with Covid19 rapid Antigen testing in 2022 to address the current problems that are arising for our community and businesses when people fail to test and fail to report testing. The Center will expand in 2023 to add maternal and childcare education, high blood pressure and diabetes, testing obesity awareness and substance abuse support.

EVIDENCE

1. The Greenwood District is a Covid19 test desert. There are no Centers and no outlets for testing (such as Walgreens and CVS) for several miles around us. Nearly all the testing sites are in suburban, residential areas. 2. Covid19 Testing is neither quick nor readily available to our community because appointments must be made and test results take some time to be reported. Our Center will be appointment-free with results arriving in 15 minutes which allows for our Health Center staff to advise and educate at the same time. Even with the arrival of federally-supplied home-testing kits, we see a continued need for a central testing site that people can rely on and where we can assure that testing data is being added to State and CDC statistics. 3. Many businesses are staying open even when staff, customers and neighbors are known be positive for Covid19. Equally, many people are getting Covid19 without getting tested , are not sharing this information in the neighborhood and are not isolating. A lack of testing and re-testing, coupled with a desire by business owners to stay open, is putting people at unnecessary risk. Immediate testing near-by along with advice and education will help people make better choices. The GCDC will also work to come up with shared ideas and policies to help businesses respond to and avoid Covid19 on their premises. 4. The Greenwood Women's Business Center will soon be open and should set an example by holding to a clear, responsible and practical Covid19 policy for those using its facilities. The Greenwood Community Health Center (Covid19 Testing) will serve as a flagship program for small businesses to

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The Covid19 pandemic has challenged the global economy, societies, and everyday lives and this has been the experience of the North Tulsa community of which the Greenwood District is the cultural heart. With a predominately African-American population and pockets of Hispanic and Native-American populations, the impact of the pandemic has been especially devastating as rates of infection and mortality has been high among these ethnic and socio-economic groups. Several factors limit our communities' ability to respond to this crisis and our new Greenwood Community Health Center (Covid19 Testing) is designed to address these immediate needs while also being the first step in establishing a permanent Community Health Center for preventative health support, routine testing and paths to health education and resources. The Center will be attached to the Women's Business Center at 100 N. Greenwood Avenue. The program will begin with Covid19 rapid Antigen testing in 2022 to address the current problems that are arising for our community and businesses when people fail to test and fail to report testing. The Center will expand in 2023 to add maternal and childcare education, high blood pressure and diabetes, testing obesity awareness and substance abuse support.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The Greenwood District is a Covid19 test desert. There are no Centers and no outlets for testing (such as Walgreens and CVS) for several miles around us. Nearly all the testing sites are in suburban, residential areas.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma