Through the work of various departments, Erie County government is committed to improving the health and well-being of all county residents.
Blue Zones Project
Erie County government and the Erie County Department of Health in 2018 joined with community partners in bringing the Blue Zones Project to the City of Corry.
The Blue Zones Project is a nationally known community well-being initiative that works to help residents live healthier, happier lives through sustainable improvements to environment, policy and social connections. Corry is the 48th community across 10 states to participate in the Blue Zones Project; it is the first community in Pennsylvania as well as in the northeastern United States. Progress on improving the health and well-being of residents in Cory will be measured by the Gallup Sharecare Well-Being Index.
Blue Zones Project in Corry was made possible through generous contributions from community partners, namely UPMC Hamot, Saint Vincent Hospital and Highmark Health, and Corry Memorial Hospital (affiliated with LECOM Health), all of which pledged $1 million over three years. Additional support has come from the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority ($100,000) and from National Fuel ($30,000).
Public Green Spaces
Several Erie County initiatives are designed to create more welcoming outdoor spaces that allow residents the chance to be more active.
The Erie County Greenways program, administered through the Department of Planning and Community Development, has distributed grant funding to community organizations to fund projects that preserve and enhance the county’s natural, scenic and recreational resources for public use and enjoyment. The funds are distributed through Erie County’s Marcellus Legacy Fund allocation. Over the course of five years, Erie County awarded nearly $1 million to community organizations, leveraging a total investment of more than $2.6 million.
Greenways funding also helped fund Erie County’s Parks, Trails and Recreation Plan, which lays out a strategy for focused investment in the county’s recreational assets.
Prescription Drug Abuse
Erie County has been a proactive leader in efforts to combat prescription drug abuse, which has contributed to a rise in overdoses and deaths.
For example, the Erie County Office of Drug and Alcohol Abuse offers prescription bottle cap timers that indicate the last time the pill bottle has been opened. This helps deter theft of prescription medication.
Erie County also sponsors 13 Med Return Unit drop boxes stationed around the county. The medication collected in these units is properly destroyed, preventing misuse.
Tobacco Cessation
The Erie County Department of Health and its partners offer tobacco cessation assistance throughout the year. For assistance, call 814-451-6700 or toll-free 1-800-QUIT-NOW.