WASHINGTON, D.C. – Live Healthy Appalachia in Athens County received new federal resources to expand its Food is Elementary nutrition program. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded a $53,000 grant for Live Healthy Appalachia to expand its program, which has proven to reduce Body Mass Index, influence food choices among children and their parents, and encourage improvements in school lunch programs.

“School nutrition programs ensure that students get the healthy foods they need to perform well both in and out of the classroom,” Brown said. “These new federal resources will help Athens County students establish good eating habits so that they can live long and healthy lives.”

According to the Appalachian Regional Commission, the grant – expected to serve nearly 500 students – will provide a series of 24 educational programs in 25 classrooms, work with the districts to implement health and nutrition policy changes, and build the program's sustainability in each district. In addition to the ARC funds, local resources will provide $27,890 for the program.