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State grant funds earmarked for STD program
The Amarillo Public Health Department is slated to receive Texas Department of State Health Services grant funds to aid the department s sexually transmitted disease program. The Amarillo City Council approved acceptance of the $223,488 two-year grant allotment which, according to the agreement, spans from Sept. 1, 2021, through Aug. 31, 2023, to continue funding for Infectious Disease Surveillance in the Public Health Department.
According to the Agenda Item Summary, the grant provides for an STD nurse, a Disease Intervention Specialist and an Administrative Support Clerk for the sexually transmitted disease program.
Additionally, in accordance with the Community Engagement Summary, patients testing positive for an STD receive partner elicitation services to confidentially test and treat partners, as a tool to reduce STDs in the community.
Report: Amarillo home sales, prices rose in 2020 despite pandemic
According to the Amarillo Association of Realtors 2020 Amarillo Housing Report, home sales and home prices here increased last year - despite a reduction in active listings.
The 2020 Amarillo Housing Report showed sales of homes increased by 3.5 percent in 2020 to 2,674 while the median price increased 11.6 percent to $177,500. The Amarillo Housing Report reflected the number of active listings in 2020 was 461 or 35.2 percent fewer than in 2019.
Meanwhile, a 2020 Texas Real Estate Year in Review trend was similar across the state of Texas, determining sales volume and home prices broke records for the sixth consecutive year. In Texas, the number of homes sold in 2020 was 393,615, for a rise of 9.5 percent over 2019, and the state s median home price rose 8 percent over 2019 to $259,230.
Funds target obesity, chronic disease prevention
During Tuesday s virtual regular session, the Amarillo City Council is expected to consider approving a state allocation of Amarillo Public Health Department grant funds to aid prevention programming for obesity and related chronic disease.
Per the Agenda Caption, the Community and Clinical Health Bridge Grant is a two-year $500,000 award from the Texas Department of State Health Services from Sept. 1, 2021, through Aug. 31, 2023, to provide services for Potter and Randall counties.
The Texas Department of State Health Services indicated being overweight increases an individual s risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and other serious medical conditions impacting quality of life, and it can have substantial economic consequences on the healthcare system. Additionally, the agency said increasing prevalence of overweight and obese children and adults is a serious concern f
In the wake of previously establishing a pair of Reinvestment Zones, the Amarillo City Council is expected to consider Reinvestment Zone 13 during Tuesday s virtual regular session.
In November 2020, the city council adopted the second reading of Ordinance 7891, designating just under five acres of land in the vicinity of Amarillo Boulevard and Point West Parkway as Reinvestment Zone 11 - created for commercial and industrial tax abatement to provide the city council the option to offer an economic development incentive.
And in January of this year, city council members adopted the second reading of Ordinance 7901, designating certain areas of the city as Reinvestment Zone 12 for commercial and industrial tax abatement in the vicinity of NE 24th