1. Vision
Imagine a workplace that made time during the workday for its employees to go for a jog or play a pick-up game of basketball; gave its employees longer lunch times so they weren't forced to eat fast food; or that encouraged, and in some cases, actually rewarded its employees and their families for getting and staying healthy.

Now, imagine that these companies were actually more progressive, more productive, and more profitable than those companies who didn't offer such opportunities.

And lastly, imagine a community that's not just home to one of these workplaces, but dozens and dozens of them--a home to tens of thousands of people who get up each day and go to work in a healthy company.

Sound like fiction? Well it's not.

Well City Explained
Even though these Well Cities may sound more like a futuristic, fictitious village from Huxley's Brave New World than they do the typical, 21st century city or town, a handful of these cities already exist today, and more and more are giving chase. In fact, nine communities, including Gainesville, FL; Kanawha Valley, WV; Kearney, NE; Lincoln, NE; Hobart, IN; Chattanooga, TN; Omaha, NE; Jacksonville, FL and Bangor, ME.

Sponsored by the Wellness Council of America, these cities became Well Cities through an initiative known as Well City USA. Evolving out of the Well Workplace Awards Process, Well City USA is an initiative designed to engage entire business communities in improving the health and well-being of their workforce.

Similar in approach to Well Workplace, the primary requirement for achieving a Well City USA designation is that 20 percent of any community's working population must be employed by either Small Business, Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum designated Well Workplace Award winning companies.

Depending on the geographical territory, Well Region and Well County criteria may be slightly different; however, the goal remains rigorous.

Why Well City?
In working to achieve our mission of creating a healthier American workforce, we concentrate our workplace wellness efforts in several strategic areas, including producing leading-edge health information, promoting corporate membership, partnering with communities to establish local business coalitions, and building and recognizing Well Workplaces.

Embodying all of these approaches under one initiative, Well City USA allows us to take our mission beyond the "one employee or one workplace at a time" approach to worksite wellness, to entire communities and beyond. Ultimately, we see the Well City USA initiative sparking the creation of Well States and Well Regions where every workplace offered its employees structured health promotion programs, and where every community made prevention a priority--resulting in the improved health of our entire nation.

Employees Benefit
Over the past seven years, the Well City USA initiative has proven itself to be an effective community based approach to health promotion. To date, tens of thousands of employees in hundreds of workplaces go to work each day in a Well Workplace. And from these workplaces have emerged countless success stories of lives saved and improved quality of life.

Workplaces Benefit
And beyond employee health, the businesses participating in the projects have also experienced some benefits of their own. Many of these businesses have been able to demonstrate significant return on their investments. Through their health promotion programs, these businesses are hoping to see reduced health care costs, improved productivity, less turnover, better recruitment ability, and a whole host of other benefits that previously were issues over which they had little control.

Understandably, there have been workplaces, especially those with higher turnover rates, hesitant to invest in health promotion for the fear that when they invest in an employee that turns over--especially to a competitor--they're giving up their competitive advantage. But, Well City USA answers this fear in two ways. First, research has demonstrated that worksite health promotion programs tend to increase job satisfaction, thereby reducing turnover in the first place. And second, if an employee does turnover, the person replacing them is already most likely healthier as a result of a previous health promotion program, thereby maintaining the level of competitive advantage.

Communities Benefit
On a community level, the cities that have achieved a Well City USA designation have also seen their communities change before their very eyes. In fact, they would all agree that their designation has acted as a catalyst to further health and well-being throughout their communities. Many of the cities have included community-wide health and fitness centers in their master plans.

And, from an economic development standpoint, these cities are looking to leverage their designation so that it becomes a major talking point when working with companies and organizations that are looking to locate in their area. With health care costs continuing to rise, relocating a business where it can draw its employees from a healthier population has some obvious benefits, and Chambers of Commerce are taking advantage of their cities newfound health.


4. Becoming a Well City

Becoming a Well City
To be placed on the list for consideration for future projects, please send the following information to Kelly Nix, WELCOA Director of Community Affairs at knix@welcoa.org.

• What “Project Type” are you interested in (Well City/County/Region/State)?

• Who would be the main contact for your initiative?
- Name
- Company
- Email
- Phone

• Are you a current member of WELCOA?

• Are there other businesses that are current WELCOA members? Please list here.
• How many businesses are located in your proposed designated territory?

• How many employees do these businesses represent?

• Do you currently have a Worksite Wellness Community Coalition?

• How many Award Winners (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum or Small Business) does your proposed designated territory currently have?




3. Current Projects
Greeley, CO Well City

With the expansive prairie out one door and the towering Rocky Mountains out the other, Greeley is a city where you can experience the best of the Contemporary West in a place where you can feel equally comfortable in a cowboy hat or a business suit. The Well City Initiative has been spearheaded by Steps to a Healthier Weld County, business leaders from the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, Banner Health—North Colorado Medical Center, and the City of Greeley. The mission is to “create a culture within the business community where employees can thrive in a healthy environment due to results-oriented health promotion programs”. It is the goal of the Greeley Well City Steering Committee to achieve the first Well City designation in Colorado, when 20% of the workforce (11,789 employees), become employed by Well Workplaces. The committee has gained the support of over 22 companies that represent all areas of the business community—agriculture, manufacturing, higher education, health care, finance and banking, construction, and more.

In 2005, the U.S. Census announced Greeley/Weld County as the fastest growing metro in the nation! Weld County is projected to show significant population growth at 20%, therefore the health status of the community is an utmost priority for the future.

• Criteria: 20%, 20 Companies
• Goal: 2010



Rhode Island Well State

Well City Goes Statewide
Even though Rhode Island is perhaps best known for being the smallest state in the Union, business leaders there have big ideas about improving statewide health and well-being. Business leaders and health professionals in Rhode Island set their sights on taking WELCOA’s Well City USA initiative to the next level. They are striving to become the first Well State in the nation.

In doing so, “Little Rhody” would become the first—and only—to attain such a designation.

• Criteria: 20%
• Well State Designation Goal: 2006



Fort Collins, CO Well City

Fort Collins Business Leaders realize that becoming a Well City is a significant undertaking that will take dedication, vision and collaboration from both the public and private sector. The City of Fort Collins, Poudre Valley Health System, Anheuser-Busch and Miramont Sport Center have already committed to being part of the initiative and working toward a Well Workplace Award.


• Criteria: 20%, 20 Companies
• Goal: 2009



Fremont, NE Well City

Business Leaders are working to promote a favorable business climate and improve the economy and quality of life in the Fremont area. The Well City initiative is a very important piece of the overall Vision to making Fremont, NE a better place to live.

• Criteria: 20%, 20 Companies
• Goal: 2009



Morgantown, WV Well City

Morgantown, WV is the fastest growing city in West Virginia and has been recognized as one of the best small cities in the Country. On top of that, Business leaders recognize the value of a healthy community and are eager to become the very next Well City in the Country.

• Criteria: 20%, 20 Companies
• Goal: 2007



Charleston, SC Well Region

Charleston, SC - The Well Region of Charleston Steering Committee announced a goal in April, 2006 of having at least 20 area companies, employing at least twenty percent of the workforce, obtain national Well Workplace designation with the Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA) over the next thirty-six months. More than 20 Charleston businesses have already committed to a securing the designation for their own company’s well workplace program, and to supporting the business community’s effort to obtain Well Region designation.

The Well Region of Charleston Steering Committee will be providing ongoing support for companies pursuing Well Workplace status. Well Workplace University training for wellness team members will be offered regularly to assure clear understanding of the WELCOA model and implementation. Quarterly Well Workplace Roundtable meetings will provide a forum for mutual support and resource sharing among area employers engaged in strategic workplace wellness efforts. Over forty companies have participated in the Roundtable meetings over the last two years.

• Criteria: 20%, 20 Companies
• Goal: 2009



Mesa County, CO Well County

Mesa County is the largest metropolitan area between Denver, CO and Salt Lake, UT. The Local and State Health Departments have taken the lead in obtaining the support and resources necessary to kick of the very first Well County initiative in the Country.

• Criteria: 30 Companies
• Goal: 2008



Milwaukee, WI - Well City

Greater Milwaukee is a collection of cultures, creativity and cool.

Bold, beautiful and progressive may just be the perfect summation of what Milwaukee has become. Yet the city remains as genuine as ever. It's still the place where you can best experience the very spirit and values America is built on. Arts, entertainment, professional sports, gourmet food and sincere warmth embrace all who visit.

Metro Milwaukee is a collection of cultures, connections and creativity. It's people, places and partnerships. Think of the Greater Milwaukee area as a big city with a small town attitude — the best of both worlds. World-class amenities like the Milwaukee Art Museum, Midwest Airlines Center, Miller Park, superb golf courses and bike trails, our downtown Riverwalk and Summerfest — the biggest and best music festival in America.

Small town treasures like authentic architecture and neighborhoods, terrific ethnic and locally-owned restaurants, festivals, beautiful gardens, parks and boulevards, a spectacular lakefront, real people and nearby hills, forests and even bigger cities.

Metro Milwaukee offers life with exciting twists and cool curves. The perfect place to live, play or visit. The place is a fascinating blend of new energy and old-world charm.

• Criteria: 20%, 20 companies
• Goal: 2010

Photo taken by Roberta Pratt


2. Award Winners
The cities listed below underwent significant transformations after engaging in WELCOA's Well City initiative. With healthier workforces—and a healthier understanding of what it takes to improve health on a large scale—these cities now serve as examples for the Well City projects that will follow. Click on the icons below to read their stories.




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