PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
02/23/2015

Mary E. O'Dowd, M.P.H.
Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

New Jersey Department of Health and Partners Award $380,000 in Grants to Communities to Improve Health

The New Jersey Department of Health, along with Partners for Health, and Atlantic Health System, has awarded $380,000 in Shaping NJ Healthy Community grants to 31 communities to improve access to healthy food and opportunities to be physically active.

"We are pleased to provide grant funding to empower communities to support healthy behaviors in our state," said New Jersey Health Commissioner Mary E. O'Dowd. "Sustainable change happens at the local level. Over the past four years of this initiative, we have seen promising policy and environmental changes as an important part of the Department's comprehensive approach to reduce obesity and promote a culture of wellness in New Jersey."

Grants are approximately $5,000 - $12,000 and were awarded to local communities for strategy implementation. Local projects include corner store initiatives, community/school gardens, community walking and bike paths, Safe Routes to School programs, new farmers markets and Take the Stairs campaigns at the workplace.

Shaping NJ is the state partnership for nutrition, physical activity and obesity prevention. The goal is to prevent obesity and improve the health of statewide populations that are at risk for poor health outcomes by creating easier and healthier choices in their everyday routines.

The Department funds 18 communities with $215,000, the additional 13 communities are funded by our funding partners - with $165,000.

To receive an award, all grantees must have an existing local coalition or partnership. The Department and our partners offer technical assistance, including conference calls, webinars and site visits, as well as communication and social media guidance and project evaluation.

To learn more about the grantees' progress visit: https://shapingnj.wordpress.com/

To view the Healthy NJ 2020 measures visit: http://nj.gov/health/chs/hnj2020/

To access the Department's Working Well in NJ Business Tool Kit visit: http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/workingwell/toolkit.shtml

Last Reviewed: 2/23/2015