Mountain Empire Older Citizens Receives Accessible Mobility Innovations Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March -3rd-2017
CONTACT: Mitch Elliott - Innovations in Transit Mobility 276-523-7433- melliot@meoc.org

Big Stone Gap, Virginia —Today, Mountain Empire Older Citizens is pleased to announce that Big Stone Gap is one of six communities nationwide to receive an Innovations in Accessible Mobility grant from the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC). The grant award of 47,215 dollars will be used to create a one-call center to assist the people in our area that have diabetes or a chronic illness to be able to access transportation and find help in navigating the health care system.

One hundred and thirty organizations representing thirty-seven states and two Tribal nations competed for these FTA cooperative agreement funds, which are managed by the NADTC. Grantees located in six communities in five states – Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio and Virginia – will work to expand mobility opportunities that enable older adults and people with disabilities to better connect to employment, health care and other needed community services.

This grant will help us focus on four areas of concern in our region. Those with Diabetes that are on Dialysis .The veterans that need to travel from our area for specialized care. Those who have been diagnosed with cancer and those with a disability.

This is a joint effort with the Junction Center for Independent Living and Developmental Services operated by Frontier Health and local transportation board (MERTAC) and its members.

Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc.(MEOC) was organized in 1974 and is designated as the area agency on aging and public transit provider for Wise , Lee and Scott Counties and the City of Norton in far Southwest Virginia.

MEOC is further committed to the intergenerational programming and to the prevention of abuse of both young and old. Wellness and health promotion are emphasized as part of its mission to promote quality of life for all. MEOC is guided by the African proverb: " Let us take care of the children, for they have a long ways to go. Let us take care of the elders, for they have come a long way. Let us take care of those in between, for they are doing the work."

If you would like to help us accomplish our goals with this grant you may contact us anytime at the address below or if you need any more information about this exciting project you may contact Mitchell Elliott , Transit Director for Mountain Empire Older Citizens at melliot@meoc.org.

Mountain Empire Older Citizens
Box 888 Big Stone Gap , Virginia 24219
276-523-4202
mwampler@meoc.org
www.meoc.org