Planning grants will foster ‘active living’
Goal is to help residents incorporate physical activity into daily routines
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) is offering planning funds and technical assistance to communities that want to focus on developing environments that support physically active lifestyles, such as regular walking and bicycling.
During the next three years, communities in the seven-county Twin Cities area will be updating their local comprehensive land-use plans. The Blue Cross funds are an opportunity for communities to integrate “active living principles” into their local plans. “Active living” denotes a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines — not just for recreation but as part of errands, commuting and other daily activities, explained Marc Manley, M.D., vice president and medical director of population health at Blue Cross.
Communities can influence the choices their residents make about physical activity in several ways, including land-use policies, the availability of walking paths or greenways, and transportation systems.
Bike trails that connect homes with job locations and shopping destinations allow people to incorporate physical activity into daily routines like commuting and running errands.
“I applaud Blue Cross’ efforts to help communities consider the health implications of their municipal planning decisions,” said Peter Bell, Metropolitan Council chair. “Community designs that accommodate more active lifestyles will benefit all of us.”
“Physical inactivity is one of the top causes of preventable death and disability in Minnesota, so the more communities can enhance their environments to support everyday physical activity by residents, the better,” Manley said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physical inactivity is responsible for at least 200,000 deaths annually from chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes in the U.S.
Blue Cross has issued separate RFPs for the two related programs: Active Community Planning and the Active Community Assessment and Engagement. An estimated $1.5 million is earmarked in 2006 for the two programs. Grant contracts will range from $5,000 to $75,000. Communities throughout the state are eligible. For details and to download the RFPs, visit www.preventionminnesota.com.
The non-binding deadline for expressing intent to apply is Friday, March 17. Proposals must by postmarked no later than April 28.
The programs are part of a larger campaign being conducted by Blue Cross called “Prevention Minnesota.” The long-term health improvement initiative is tackling preventable heart disease and cancers by addressing their root causes: tobacco use, physical inactivity and unhealthy eating. One of the campaign’s goals is to increase the proportion of Minnesotans who meet or exceed 30 minutes of physical activity at least five days a week from 49 percent to 75 percent.