Mqt. competing for public health money

Marquette is competing with two other Michigan cities for public health and wellness grant money.

The city that receives the most money will be based on how much exercise residents of each city get.

Marquette has been chosen to be part of the Big Green Gym Challenge.

For the next eight weeks, the city is competing with Kalamazoo and Traverse City to see whose residents get the most cumulative physical activity.

“It’s really important to address the really positive nature of this challenge,” Marquette Assistant Director of Community Services Jon Swenson said. “Number one, it’s fun to get these communities involved in competing with each other. First and foremost, it’s great to get people outside.”

All three cities will receive public health grant money after the challenge, but the city whose residents have been the most active will receive $10,000.

“Every minute counts toward the end, gets converted toward miles, and in the end, the city with the most miles wins,” Swenson said.

Marquette is in second place in the early going, just a few miles behind Traverse City for first.

If you want to sign up, you can do it here.