Be Healthy Berrien Gets Boost

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A grant of $90,000 is going to the Be Healthy Berrien partnership so it can work on four recreation and health-related projects in southern Berrien County. This month, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced the funds from the Michigan Health and Wellness 4×4 Grant Program. Be Healthy Berrien’s Heather Cole tells WSJM News that program is intended to fight obesity.

“We really are working to reduce obesity and reduce chronic disease,” Cole said. “We really want to build our communities the places where we live, work, learn, and play to be healthier places for all of us.”

Be Healthy Berrien is a partnership of the Berrien County Health Department, the United Way, Lakeland, the YMCA, and the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission. Cole says the $90,000 grant will be used to work on exploring an expansion of the Indiana-Michigan River Valley trail to Berrien Springs, do a feasibility study to expand Niles Dial-A-Ride, create a Niles historical site bicycle tour, and to work with businesses to serve healthy food.