“Growing Healthy Communities” is a program of the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention (ArCOP) that started in 2010, which was when the City of Nashville was selected to participate in the program.  Subsequently the City established its Growing Healthy Communities (GHC) Committee, submitted a strategic plan to ArCOP addressing healthy nutrition and active lifestyles, and in May 2011 received the first round of grant funds to implement the plan.  The GHC Committee has since been dedicated to building the capacity to reduce obesity by increasing access to physical activity and healthy foods, as well as implementing environmental and policy changes that support healthy living.  With the Howard County Health Improvement Coalition serving as the lead, the Growing Healthy Communities Initiative brings together individuals, companies and organizations across sector lines to recognize a healthy community is a better community on virtually every measure of success.