The target population for the project are the residents of southeastern Preble County and southwestern Montgomery County, including Farmersville, Germantown, Miamisburg, and West Carrollton. Kettering Medical Center's partners are Wright State University School of Medicine and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The Healthy Hearts measure is included in the conference report to accompany the bill which funds the Agriculture Department. The bill was approved by the House last week. The bill passed the Senate, and now goes to the White House where it is expected to be signed.
Heart disease is the number one killer in America.
Risk factors which can be modified to reduce the risk of heart disease include improving the diet, increasing exercise, stopping smoking, and reducing stress. The money would come from the Rural Community Advancement Program of the Agriculture Department. The Rural Community Advancement Program was created to assist communities with small populations and low per capita income. It provides grants, direct loans, and loan guarantees. The bill does not appropriate a specific dollar amount to the Kettering program.