The Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health received the Nonprofit of the Year Award from the Upper Peninsula Economic Development Alliance. The award was presented to Director Elise Bur at Operation Action UP's annual meeting Feb. 13.
NMU's Center for Rural Health seeks to improve the health and well-being of Upper Peninsula residents and communities by developing collaborative partnerships that improve the access and availability of affordable, quality healthcare services.
Bur said the center has impacted economic development in the region by solidifying more than $2.3M in funding for health-related projects and workforce development initiatives over the past four years.
More recently, the center facilitated introductions that resulted in solidifying $80,000 in EMS tuition assistance for students in the western U.P. and educating, training and certifying 85 Community Health Workers across the U.P. over the past 18 months. Community Health Workers connect individuals to community resources and reduce barriers to care, education and employment.
"As the development of the center continues, I look forward to embracing new partnerships, strengthening current alliances and facilitating introductions and connections, when possible,” Bur added. “Through collaboration, we have the ability to leverage each other's strengths, collectively approach challenges and identify and implement solutions that improve health. Understanding current initiatives, appropriately contributing when possible, and linking people together in homes of strengthening and building upon efforts sets our region up to model what may work in other rural communities throughout the nation."
The center also conducted a talent survey of U.P. healthcare providers in late 2023 to better understand their current and future staffing needs, and to investigate creative solutions for strengthening and expanding the region's healthcare workforce. The survey was a collaboration with InvestUP and the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, combining shared objectives to advance career opportunity for students and alumni in the Upper Peninsula and improve health outcomes on a regional scale.
The Upper Peninsula's remote location and sparse population often result in challenges for achieving and maintaining good health. In addition to a dearth of primary and specialty health care services, the region has a large low-income population, poor health status indicators, inadequate social support, and major transportation barriers that affect access to health care services.
Partners of the NMU Center for Rural Health Network have joined forces to take action through the engagement of a wide variety of public, private, and volunteer sectors. They understand that basic needs must be addressed before individuals are empowered to plan ahead and be proactive about their health.
The Upper Peninsula Economic Development Alliance (UPEDA), which selected NMU's Center for Rural Health as this year's Nonprofit of the Year Award recipient, provides its members with a forum to connect to accomplish economic development activities in the region. They work together to share information, provide ongoing education, and support businesses and entrepreneurial growth.
The UPEDA's membership consists of private companies, utilities and local and regional economic development agencies throughout the Upper Peninsula. Its marketing campaign and information systems are funded through a matching-fund grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.