Friday, February 5, 2010

GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCES $2.7M FOR SMOKING CESSATION, YOUTH HEALTH

Gov. Bill Ritter today announced that $2.7 million from the Recovery Act will help improve public health across Colorado through smoking cessation and school-based health programs. Colorado received three grants from the Centers for Disease Control’s Prevention and Wellness Initiative.

“ Colorado is a nationwide leader in healthy living, but there is still much work to be done to help Coloradans, and especially children, make healthy choices,” Gov. Ritter said. “These Recovery Act grants will help Coloradans quit smoking and encourage children to exercise and improve their diets.”

The three grants, which will be coordinated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, include:

· $759,976 for tobacco cessation outreach through quitlines and media advertising.
· $793,946 for efforts to improve nutrition, physical activity and tobacco control.
· $1,198,785 to implement model food policies in schools, reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks, and increase awareness of the health implications of excess dietary sodium.

The Colorado grants were among more than 100 awarded today by the Centers for Disease Control to state agencies across the nation. The grants total over $119 million. Colorado was among only 13 states to receive a competitive grant for its school-based health initiative.

More Recovery Act grants tied to the federal Communities Putting Prevention to Work program will be announced in coming weeks. At least $6.7 billion in Recovery Act funds are expected to come to Colorado over the next two years.

More information about the Recovery Act and its impact on Colorado can be found at www.colorado.gov/recovery.

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