NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness today announced Clarksville has been awarded a $5,000 Healthier Tennessee Community Grant to help sustain community-wide projects that encourage and enable physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco abstinence.

“We are pleased to present this grant to Clarksville in recognition of the great work being done there and with the belief that it will boost efforts to improve the health of local citizens and the overall quality of life in the community,” Governor’s Foundation CEO Richard Johnson said.

To earn the grant, Clarksville’s ClarksWell initiative achieved:
• At least 50 percent of K-8 teachers using GoNoodle, an interactive, online tool that encourages exercise during the school day.
• At least 15 percent of faith communities with 100 or more members using Small Starts @ Worship wellness programs.
• At least 20 percent of workplaces with 35 or more employees using Small Starts @ Work wellness programs.

In Tennessee, one in four adults smokes, and one in five high school students uses tobacco. Approximately 31 percent of the population is classified as obese and an additional 34 percent are overweight, and type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure are at epidemic levels.

The Healthier Tennessee Communities initiative takes a local approach to improving Tennesseans’ health by engaging citizens and local leaders in cities, towns, counties and neighborhoods across the state.

To be designated a Healthier Tennessee Community, Clarksville must initiate and sustain community-wide events and activities that support physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco abstinence, and then track and measure outputs and accomplishments of the program.

Counties currently working to become Healthier Tennessee Communities include: Anderson, Bedford, Benton, Blount, Carroll, Chester, Cocke, Crockett, Cumberland, Dickson, Franklin, Gibson, Giles, Grundy, Haywood, Henderson, Jefferson, Lake, Lauderdale, Macon, Marion, Marshall, Maury, McNairy, Meigs, Obion, Rhea, Tipton, Trousdale, Weakley and Wilson.

The cities taking part are: Arlington, Clarksville, Collegedale, Cookeville, Crossville, and Spring Hill.

Decatur, Dyer, Hickman, Loudon and McMinn counties, Jackson–Madison County and the cities of Franklin, Germantown, Kingsport and Tullahoma have recently received the designation.

For more information about the Healthier Tennessee Community program and other Healthier Tennessee initiatives, visit www.healthiertn.com.