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Home > BizTimes Daily > Archives > January 11, 2007
Milwaukee makes push to become a 'Well City'
Published January 11, 2007 - BizTimes Daily
Milwaukee has begun a three-year initiative to earn the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) designation as a "Well City."
Milwaukee has been selected to be one of only three cities that will be allowed to apply for the designation in 2007 and will have three years to fulfill the necessary requirements. Several business and city leaders who serve on the Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC) and Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) gathered this morning for a CEO Briefing Breakfast to rally support for the initiative. The event was hosted by the YMCA of Greater Milwaukee.
Mayor Tom Barrett said the commitment to obtaining WELCOA's "Well City" designation is "Milwaukee's New Year's resolution."
Hal Daub, former mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, who was instrumental in his city obtaining WELCOA's "Well City" status, spoke to the Milwaukee contingent this morning.
"Like any CEO, I am interested in making sure that we control our health care costs while improving the lives of our workers," Barrett said. "Our commitment to being a Well City is a commitment to a healthier workforce and a strong regional economy."
Milwaukee was selected because of the efforts of the GMC Wellness Taskforce and the MMAC Healthy Lifestyle Committee.
"This designation is not just about being healthier, it has significant economic value as well. We can help stop the brain drain from our state by demonstrating to young people that Milwaukee is a place that values a healthy lifestyle at home and at work. This designation will help make Milwaukee their city of choice,” said Arvid "Dick" Tillmar, partner at Diversified Insurance Services and co-chair of the GMC and MMAC task forces. "We will all reap the benefits of a healthier workforce through reduced health care costs, higher productivity, lower stress, and reduced absenteeism."
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.
Future meetings are planned with local human resource professionals to discuss implementation and execution of the initiative.
