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Healthy Hometown℠ Powered by Wellmark announces South Dakota award finalists Winners to be announced at 2018 Annual Chronic Disease Partners/Better Choices, Better Health® Meeting

October 09, 2018

DES MOINES, IA – Healthy Hometown℠ Powered by Wellmark announced the six finalists for its inaugural South Dakota Healthy Hometown Community Award in 2018. These communities are being recognized for advancing efforts to improve the physical, social and emotional well-being of South Dakotans.

The following is a list of the Healthy Hometown Community award nominees along with one of their many accomplishments.

Aberdeen

  • Hosted monthly healthy cooking events at the teaching kitchen in the new library

Dell Rapids

  • Expanded two miles of trail and created enhancements along trails using benches, picnic tables and lighting

Fort Pierre

  • Started a community garden with 24 raised beds, providing fresh produce to more than 150 senior nutrition program recipients and at least 80 other individuals

Pierre

  • Expanded the Go Green and Clean program in which 235 volunteers representing 30 organizations collected more than 4,000 pounds of trash

Rapid City

  • Established four new food pantries to collect and distribute healthy food to people in need

Sioux Falls

  • Implemented a "road diet," rechanneling lanes and reducing the width of the road in front of the City Center building, to improve safety and provide space for different modes of travel

"Healthy Hometown is proud to work with Good & Healthy South Dakota to recognize the work these finalists are doing to improve the overall health and well-being of South Dakotans," said Laura Jackson, Wellmark executive vice president. "The communities have set a great example for other communities to emulate. We look forward to sharing their stories at the awards luncheon."

Healthy Hometown℠ Powered by Wellmark and Good & Healthy South Dakota will announce the 2018 Healthy Hometown Community award winners on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. Each 2018 Healthy Hometown Community Award winner will be granted a $5,000 award to continue their work focused on improving the health and well-being of their citizens.

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