Virginia – Petersburg Pilot Aims To Bring More Medical Access And Fresh Groceries To One Of America’s Most Underserved Cities
Petersburg, Va. — Families in Petersburg could soon see more options for urgent medical care, improved school nutrition, and help addressing home health hazards under a new federal initiative targeting one of Virginia’s most medically underserved cities.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday that it is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Virginia leaders, and the city on Make Petersburg Healthy Again, a project that will focus on chronic disease, access to care, and environmental health in specific neighborhoods.
Federal officials said Petersburg’s health indicators lag well behind state and national averages, with higher rates of chronic illness and limited access to grocery stores and nearby urgent care. The plan’s first steps include expanding urgent care access, increasing availability of fresh and healthy foods aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, improving nutrition in local schools, and supporting environmental health work such as removing lead hazards in homes.
HUD said it will provide new technical assistance in Petersburg tied to its Healthy Homes work, with staff helping local jurisdictions meet program requirements and develop work plans and partnerships. The agency also announced a separate national Notice of Funding Opportunity totaling $4.4 million for lead hazard reduction capacity building to help communities strengthen efforts to control lead-based paint risks.
For parents, local health leaders recommend keeping children’s asthma action plans updated, asking schools about nutrition changes and menus, and using trusted local channels for information on lead testing and home safety resources.
City and federal officials said additional details about the targeted census tract and on-the-ground deployment of U.S. Public Health Service officers are expected as planning moves forward. Residents can monitor updates through city communications and federal announcements from HHS and HUD.
This article was produced by an education parenting today journalist with the assistance of AI. This is not legal advice. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
