History

Our roots began in 2008 when employees at TriCounty Health were working with the community to help provide financial support for local residents who needed medical treatment hundreds of miles away in the Salt Lake valley. (You can read more about the early days here). These fundraising efforts resulted in the creation of local charity foundation. The foundation was officially established as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization in 2011, and was called the TriCounty Public Health Foundation.

In later years, the name was changed to The Foundation for Healthy Communities of Northeastern Utah to better reflect the mission and vision of the organization.  While the original goal was to help local residents access the healthcare they needed, over time the vision shifted to toward creating and sustaining healthy communities.  The mission of the Foundation for Healthy Communities of Northeastern Utah is to “promote healthy communities by developing resources to protect and improve the environment, promote health, and prevent disease.”   

From 2023-2026 HCNEU offered individuals, with low incomes, in Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah Counties low interest loans to repair or replace failed or failing septic systems. This program was funded by a federal grant through the USDA. Unfortunately, funding for this program ended in September of 2026.