PORTLAND — As a result of a $2,425,220 grant awarded to MaineHealth, Healthy Androscoggin and St. Mary’s Health System will gain support for activities to improve physical activity, healthy eating and decrease tobacco use in Androscoggin County.

Through local partnerships, the MaineHealth award will benefit rural communities in Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc and Waldo Counties. Called the HOMEtowns (Health of Maine Towns) Partnership, the project encompasses two of Maine’s nine local Public Health Districts, Western and Midcoast, and will reach more than 344,000 Mainers, nearly one-third of the state.

The grant is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Community Transformation Grants to support public health efforts to reduce chronic diseases, promote healthier lifestyles, reduce health disparities and control health care spending in small communities.

“By focusing on rural areas, this CTG grant award will have a significant impact on the work we do,” said Steven Johndro, executive director for Healthy Androscoggin, “particularly in light of recent funding cuts here in Maine that have resulted in fewer dollars for important disease prevention activities.”

Healthy Androscoggin and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center will work with provider practices to make it easier for providers to provide advice and resources to patients wishing to quit tobacco. The grant will also allow more public health and health care professionals become Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialists.

Additionally, more staff time will be available at Healthy Androscoggin to engage local after-school sites in Let’s Go Androscoggin. Let’s Go Androscoggin is tied to the statewide Let’s Go initiative, which encourages healthy eating and active living among youth and families by creating healthy policies and practices. Let’s Go promotes the 5-2-1-0 message: five fruits and vegetables per day; two hours of screen time or less per day; one hour or more of physical activity per day; zero sugar-sweetened beverages.

Grant resources will also assist some Androscoggin County farmers’ markets implement EBT systems and incentivize community members using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to purchase fruits and vegetables at the markets.

To learn more about the Community Transformation Grant Program, including a list of all awardees, visit www.cdc.gov/communitytransformation.

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