In March 2010, Multnomah County was awarded a $7.5 million grant from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fund local efforts to increase physical activity, improve nutrition and decrease overweight/obesity rates.
Dozens of community organizations as well as local jurisdictions—including the cities of Portland and Gresham and seven local school districts—will receive grant funding through the Multnomah County Health Department for chronic disease prevention projects such as
- hiring school wellness policy coordinators to develop after-school programs and efforts to encourage safe walking and biking to school, and policies that limit marketing of unhealthy products to children
- planning efforts in land use, transportation, parks and recreation, and food policy to ensure equitable access to healthy, affordable food and opportunities for physical activity
“This will be a dynamic project based on successful programs we’ve developed to promote healthy food choices and active living,” Multnomah County Health Department Director Lillian Shirley said. “A defining feature of this effort is our proposal to engage and fully involve community partners. Ultimately, we want the healthier choice to become an easier choice to make.”
Multnomah County received the grant as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Communities Putting Prevention to Work” initiative, which awarded a total of $372.8 million in economic recovery funds to 44 counties, cities, and tribes across the country for efforts to combat chronic disease and promote health.
For more information, contact Sonia Manhas at (503) 988-3663 x26221 or sonia.manhas@co.multnomah.or.us