More Cities Earn Gold Status As Part of Let’s Move Cities, Towns, and Counties Initiative

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Leaders from across the US are bringing healthy change to their part of the country by joining the Let’s Move Cities, Towns, and Counties (LMCTC) initiative. According to a National League of Cities (NLC) blog, since January 2014, in addition to over 1,800 communities who started making healthy changes, eleven LMCTC communities completed all the requirements necessary to earn gold medals in five different health categories.

The eleven communities who have committed to growing healthy change include:

• Beaumont, TX – Councilmember Dr. Alan B. Coleman
• Annapolis, MD – Mayor Michael Pantelides
• Columbia, SC – City Council Member Tameika Isaac Devine
• Columbus, OH – Mayor Michael B. Coleman
• Fontana, CA – Mayor Acquanetta Warren
• Knox County, TN – Mayor Tim Burchett
• Knoxville, TN – Mayor Madeline Rogero
• Orlando, FL – Mayor Buddy Dyer
• Palm Springs, CA – Mayor Steve Pougnet
• Rancho Cucamonga, CA – Mayor L. Dennis Michael
• Rockville, MD – Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton

For a community to be recognized, LMCTC requires that they surpass certain benchmarks to earn either a bronze, silver or gold medal in the following five categories:

• Start Early, Start Smart: Training in physical activity, nutrition, & reduced screen time is provided to early childhood care providers.
• MyPlate, Your Place: Leaders display MyPlate nutrition guidelines at government owned/operated food & beverage venues.
• Smart Servings For Students: Elected officials commit to expanding access to healthy meals before and after the school day.
• Model Food Service: Officials commit to serving food that follow the Dietary Guidelines For Americans at government venues.
• Active Kids At Play: Officials commit to developing a map of all play venues available to the public to developing an action plan to increase physical activity.

Initially, Let’s Move was launched in February 2010 by first Lady Michelle Obama as a way to encourage play, increase levels of physical activity and to prevent obesity. Then in June 2010, Let’s Move Cities and Towns (later renamed Let’s Move Cities, Towns, and Counties) was born.

In order to help communities get healthy, with support from a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant, the NLC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offer technical support to government leaders who chose to participate in the LMCTC initiative.

Read more about LMCTC gold communities here.

Access the LMCTC guide here.