AGENDA #4j

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:      Fit Communities Designation and Fit Together Grant

DATE:            January 23, 2006

BACKGROUND

On January 9, 2006, the Council received a recommendation from the Active Living by Design Advisory Committee requesting that the Town apply for the Fit Communities Designation and the Fit Together Grant (Attachment 1).

DISCUSSION

On November 10, 2005, the North Carolina Fit Together initiative announced the Fit Together program (Attachment 2) The Fit Together program, the anti-obesity campaign of the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund and Blue Cross Blue Shield, is designed to acknowledge and reward North Carolina cities and towns that are actively promoting healthy lifestyles. The Fit Together program includes designation as a “Fit Community” and possible funding for community initiatives in the areas of physical activity and healthy eating.

Communities that are designated as a “Fit Community” will receive a sign for the entrance to the community, a plaque, recognition on the Fit Together website and permission to use the Fit Community designation logo for all municipal communications. The Fit Together program is also offering two year grants, totaling up to $30,000 per year, to support local efforts to increase physical activity and encourage healthy eating. Approximately $1,000,000 is available statewide for the grant program. There are no matching funds required.

The efforts the Town has undertaken to promote greater mobility through the construction of pedestrian and bicycle facilities have helped create expanded opportunities for Chapel Hill citizens to be more active. Ongoing efforts of the Town’s Active Living by Design program, aimed at implementing healthy living programs focused on area schools, businesses and neighborhoods, has been successful in expanding public awareness of the importance of increased physical activity. Designation as a “Fit Community” would recognize the efforts the Town has undertaken to promote a more active community.

We recommend that the Town apply for grant funding to supplement our ongoing efforts, particularly programs intended to increase walking and bicycling to school, and general community awareness about opportunities for more active lifestyles. If the Town receives grant funding from this program we suggest these funds be used to expand the Active Living by Design program to promote healthy living and support for the Healthy Routes to Schools project.

RECOMMENDATION

Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council approve the attached resolution authorizing the Manager to apply for designation as a Fit Community and to apply for associated grant funding.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Active Living by Design Advisory Committee Recommendation (p. 4).

2. Fit Together Press Release (p. 5).