NATCHEZ — The City of Natchez is considering applying for a grant to help fund a program proponents say would help improve the health of the overall community, prevent chronic disease and reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic populations with the highest risk of chronic disease in the Miss-Lou.

During Tuesday’s Natchez Board of Aldermen meeting, the board heard a motion to allow the city to work with healthcare consultant Getty Israel to apply to be a part of the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program. Israel has worked in Natchez for the past two years directing the Diabetes and Heart Intervention Program stationed at the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Natchez campus.

If the city decides to apply for the program, the application will specifically target black residents of Natchez and Adams County, populations that statistically have the highest rates of chronic diseases. Also, if funded, this will be a 5-year program, with the budget not exceeding $250,000.

Not only that, but Natchez would continue to use the programs that had been previously funded by the Humana Foundation: Diabetes and Heart Disease Intervention Program, Perinatal Intervention Program — formerly known as Healthy Moms/Healthy Babies, the Tai Chi program that focuses to improve the fitness levels of the elderly and purchase of outdoor resistance and strength training exercise equipment.

If the city applies and is accepted for the program, funding could lead to about 15 community health workers, two program coordinators and a program director — which all would be independent contractors.

Natchez has until Monday to apply for the grant.