http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/area-organization-receives-grant-improve-community039s-health_50767.mp3
A crowed filled a room on the top floor of the YMCA in downtown Springfield as Mike Stout, chair of the Health Living Alliance’s advisory committee, announced the grant…
"We are very excited to announce that we have received a Community Transformation Grant from the Centers for Disease Control," he said.
The grant is designed to increase opportunities to prevent chronic diseases. It was awarded to 40 organizations across the country.
Mary Kromrey, Associate Executive Director of the Ozarks Regional YMCA and a member of HLA’s executive committee, says the money will be used to continue existing programs that are designed to improve the health of area residents…
"The money will go towards helping our partner Ozark Greenways implement Complete Streets, educate on the Ozark Greenways Let's Go Smart Springfield initiative, provide resources for healthy eating through the Let's Eat Smart Springfield initiative, work with local sprouts on a Farm to Table project and coalition building and strengthen linkages to preventive services," she said.
According to Mike Stout, Greene County doesn’t compare well to the rest of the state and the country when it comes to obesity and tobacco use. He says statistics show that improvement is needed…
"As a community in terms of the overall statistics we are doing a little bit worse in Greene County than the rest of the state and the rest of the country, particularly when you look at obesity rates, tobacco use," he said.
However, Stout says the area has a good thing going for it. He says Springfield and Greene County do a good job of bringing people together to try to solve the problem.
According to Stout, while statistics aren’t where the HLA would like them to be, he’s confident that, through programs and services offered by the HLA and its partners, the needle will hopefully start to move in the right direction.