Chester County Named Among 50 Healthiest Counties Nationwide; Granted $10K

Chester County has been named as a finalist in a competition surveying the healthiest communities around the nation.

The county has made the HealthyCommunity50 as part of the Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge. As part of the recognition, the county will receive $10,000 in seed money to undertake community improvement projects.

The Challenge is sponsored by the Aetna Foundation, the American Public Health Association, and the National Association of Counties. More than $1.5 million will be awarded to cities and counties nationwide.

“Our proposed program, WalkWorks ChesCo!, is designed to promote, educate and empower residents to adopt a healthier lifestyle," said Chester County Commissioners’ Chair Terence Farrell. "We’re asking individuals throughout the county to make the decision to walk, and we will make that decision easier by creating programs and environments that favor walking.”

To apply for the honor, communities had to explain their plans to improve the health of their communities in one of five ways: healthy behaviors, environmental exposures, community safety, built environment, and social/economic factors.

“While WalkWorks Chesco! is a county-led program, we will be partnering with a wide group of community organizations throughout the county including municipalities, YMCAs, foundations and non-profits, hospitals and primary healthcare centers. And as the program grows, so too will the number of partners involved, including chambers of commerce, private
sector companies and schools," Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline said.

Patch file photo.