In Bartholomew County, Indiana, the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce has worked with two other local groups to create Reach Healthy Business, a workplace recognition program designed to support companies who are committed to creating a workplace that supports employee health. Says Chamber of Commerce president Jack Hess, "The two biggest costs grabbers for any business today are both health related-and that's health insurance increases, but also the loss in productivity based on the treatment of health-related disease, such as employee absenteeism. The bottom line is this: a healthy community is one in which companies want to locate, businesses want to grow and expand, and the best workforce in the world wants to live." Bartholomew County's Farm-to-Fork program didn't just bring 11,000 students fresh strawberries, tomatoes, watermelon and apples from local farmers: it also saved money, when food service directors found some local produce priced at half the cost of produce that had been shipped in from out of state.

Visit the REACH website for more information.

Read the original profile on the CDC website.