Health Department to give out workplace wellness grants

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - The Vermont Health Department is awarding grants to improve wellness programs at work.

Grants of $3,000 are being offered to six work sites around Vermont to support wellness programs that increase physical activity and healthy eating opportunities for employees.

The grants are funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of a national effort.

The Health Department says in Vermont more than 60 percent of adults working outside the home are either overweight or obese, and more than 50 percent have at least one chronic condition.

This year the grants are available to work sites with between five and 100 employees in the department’s Local Health service areas of Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Middlebury, Morrisville and Newport. Other areas were eligible for funding last year.