What's missing from local economic development? HEALTH
What if we put health at the center? Imagine the economic impact!
There is some impactful work happening around developing local, diverse economies. See, for example, Local Blueprints for a collaboration on developing resilient local economic development. How can we adapt these ideas to place health of people, land, and resources at the center? And, if we do not, what will the outcomes look like? Can we have strong economies without health? What if we reversed or incorporated health into this paradigm?
Please share this with your city council, mayor, or planning and development department.
In contrast, let’s look at communities that placed health at the center of change and imagine the economic impact. The Blue Zone project collected data on three communities here. What are the hidden economic benefits from Fort Worth?
“WELL-BEING INDEX
Decrease in risk factors to residents' health from 2014 to 2018:
31% drop in smoking
11% drop in high cholesterol
7% drop in high blood pressure
Increase in residents' healthy lifestyle habits from 2014 to 2018:
17% increase in exercise
3% increase in produce consumption
Overall well-being score up 3.7 points
Fort Worth's metro area equivalent ranking moved up to 58th from 185th out of approximately 190 metro areas
Fort Worth embraces Blue Zones Project:
More than 88,000 residents participated in Project programs
14% increase in residents who are "thriving"
8.8% increase in civic pride
Read the Fort Worth Blue Zones Project Journey book to learn more
COMMUNITY
Strong public-private partnerships led to true collective impact across the city.
$6.2 million awarded for Safe Routes to School infrastructure around eight schools
A 2018 bond election allocated $8 million for West 7th Street improvements
More than $4 million in funding approved for five new electric buses, the first of their kind for the Trinity Metro fleet
New tobacco polices eliminated smoking in city parks and ensure smoke-free environments for all Fort Worth employees
Local employers report a healthier, less costly workforce.
DFW Airport's healthcare cost increase rate is running 40% below the national trend
In just one year, local employer Mother Parker's Tea & Coffee saw a 16% drop in paid medical claims and a 26% decrease in paid pharmacy claims
MEDIA
Featured in more than 2,200 news stories.
2.9 billion in media reach between 2015 and 2018.
Featured stories include:
TODAY Show
The New York Times
Forbes
NBC Nightly News”
https://info.bluezonesproject.com/results
What health initiatives have you seen that also support your local economy? Link them below in the comments!