WASHINGTON—To help governors continue their sustained commitments to improve healthy lifestyles and wellness efforts among Americans, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) has awarded Healthy States grants of up to $100,000 to 13 states. Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin will receive funding and assistance to support their wellness efforts over the next 12 months.

The NGA Center Healthy States Grant Program is an outgrowth of NGA Chair Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's Healthy America initiative, which focuses on achieving wellness where we live, work and learn. States receiving grants have developed realistic, achievable and sensible plans to encourage healthy, active lifestyles in their states, such as those outlined in Creating Healthy States: Actions for Governors.

The Healthy States grant recipients were selected by a committee independent of NGA from innovative proposals submitted by 34 states. Chaired by Harvey Fineberg, president, Institute of Medicine, the selection committee included leading national experts on worksite and community wellness programs and initiatives. Committee members include: Georges Benjamin, executive director, American Public Health Association; John Clymer, president, Partnership for Prevention; Dee Edington, director, University of Michigan Health Management Research Center; Reed Tuckson, senior vice president of consumer health and medical care advancement, UnitedHealth Group.

"Governors are in a unique position to promote partnerships that educate people about the need to make lifestyle changes; lead and inspire them to change; and offer incentives for improving their health," said Gov. Huckabee. "The Healthy States Grant Program is a valuable resource that will provide governors the tools and support they need to improve the health of the residents of their states."

Grantees may use the funds to support community- and worksite-based wellness efforts. To help states achieve their goals, the NGA Center will provide customized technical assistance and strategic guidance. In addition, next month's NGA Annual Meeting will include opportunities for governors to discuss the Healthy America initiative and potential partnerships with the private sector in promoting wellness.

Worksite wellness programs were the focus of 11 of the 13 winning proposals. Colorado will develop a work plan between the Colorado Wellness Committee and the Metro Denver Health and Wellness Commission to improve wellness for state employees. Connecticut will create an Interdisciplinary Health Policy team to advise the governor on creating a wellness agenda for state employees. Georgia is developing a worksite wellness initiative targeting school-based employees. Mainewill focus on the significant small business population in their state by developing a small business wellness toolkit designed for employers of fewer than 25 employees. Michigan plans to target private sector businesses by demonstrating the cost effectiveness of healthy workplaces. The Healthy Minnesota Workplace Initiative also targets private sector businesses by encouraging workplace health promotion programs and implementing an obesity campaign. Nebraska will focus on improving the health of state employees by providing financial incentives and improving the worksite environment. Oklahoma will encourage state residents to eat better, move more and be tobacco free by developing and promoting training modules for the "Make it Your Business" curriculum designed for private-sector businesses. South Dakota will target wellness efforts within the Native American and American Indian populations. Washington will use the Health Care Authority and the Department of Health to work with other state agencies to launch "Washington Wellness Works," a statewide wellness initiative to improve the health of state employees and retirees. Wisconsin proposed a Healthier Wisconsin Worksite Project that will work with businesses and industry to improve worksite wellness for state employees.

Community wellness efforts in two states also were recognized. Iowa will promote the health and economic benefits for communities by increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among residents. Utah will work with Wasatch Community Gardens to launch a mini-grant program to develop gardens in low-income communities.

Grants were made possible through the generous support of Aetna, Anheuser-Busch, AstraZeneca, General Mills, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Novo Nordisk, PepsiCo, Pfizer and Wal-Mart.

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The National Governors Association (NGA), founded in 1908, is the instrument through which the nation's governors collectively influence the development and implementation of national policy and apply creative leadership to state issues. Its members are the governors of the 50 states, three territories and two commonwealths. The NGA Center for Best Practices helps governors and their policy advisors develop and implement innovative solutions to governance and policy challenges facing them in their states. The Center provides tailored technical assistance, tracks and evaluates state innovations and best practices and helps governors and their staff develop cutting-edge solutions to stay ahead of problems. For more information, please visit www.nga.org.