The Jefferson Chamber of Commerce has been designated a Level Two WellSpot by the Louisiana Department of Health for its commitment to making healthy choices easier. WellSpots are organizations or companies that have made small, sustainable changes toward improving health and wellness.

Well-Ahead Louisiana, the first voluntary designation program of its kind in the state, encourages organizations and individuals to make small healthy lifestyle changes to spaces where Louisiana residents spend most of their time. Well-Ahead was launched in early 2014 and has designated WellSpots in every parish throughout the state.

Jefferson Chamber completed several benchmarks to earn its designation, including:

• Comprehensive tobacco and smoke free policy
• Designation as a breastfeeding friendly workplace
• Adoption of a healthy meeting policy

Well-Ahead Louisiana’s designation includes three levels of WellSpots, Level One, Level Two and Level Three.  Level One indicates that the highest number of Well-Ahead benchmarks have been met. WellSpots are asked to implement healthy benchmarks such as a smoke-free or tobacco-free policy, breastfeeding friendly policies, worksite wellness programs, and consistent health messaging.

The healthy practices Jefferson Chamber has implemented through our WellSpot designation help our team make smart choices an easier part of living, working and playing in Louisiana.

For more information on the Well Ahead Louisiana initiative and resources available, please visit www.WellAheadLA.com.

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About the Jefferson Chamber:

The Jefferson Chamber is a leading voice for Jefferson Parish’s business community. As a non-profit, membership-driven organization, the Chamber is an effective advocate for small and large businesses at the local, state and federal levels. The Chamber’s mission is to work for the advancement of the business community; to enhance the economic, civic and cultural environment; and to improve the quality of life in Jefferson Parish. The Jefferson Chamber is Four-Star Accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was awarded the 2013 and 2015 Chamber of the Year Award by the Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives in the Large Chamber Category.

The Jefferson Chamber of Commerce will host the 11^th Annual Tour de Jefferson, presented by Laitram, and the 1^st Annual LIVEWELL Fest on Sunday, September 10, 2017, at Lafreniere Park. The goal of this family-friendly biking adventure and festival is to continually enhance the awareness of quality-of-life amenities, recreational venues, and the Bicycle Master Plan in Jefferson Parish.

This will be the first year that Tour de Jefferson will be held on the East Bank of Jefferson Parish. The ride will start in Lafreniere Park at 8:30 a.m. and will offer riders 42, 28, and 13 mile routes to choose from. Scenic rest stops will be available along the way equipped with energizing snacks and drinks. The ride will finish at Lafreniere Park, where riders will enjoy food, beverages an athlete-exclusive flex zone and music by the Bag of Donuts at LIVEWELL Fest!

For those not participating in the bike ride, a 2-mile healthy tips Fun Run & Walk will be held at 9 a.m. through Lafreniere Park. The Fun Run is free…sign up today!

Celebrate healthy and active lifestyles and the importance of health initiatives in Greater New Orleans at LIVEWELL Fest! The Fest will begin at 10 a.m. and will feature the LIVEWELL Eatery with delicious, local food. Guests are invited to stop by the Jefferson Marketplace, featuring healthy products, massages, the LIVEWELL Garden Center and more! The Fest will continue until 3 p.m. and is open to the public. Admission is FREE.

Individual riders and Fun Run participants can register online at tourdejefferson.org or by calling (504) 835-3880. Tickets for food and drinks at the LIVEWELL Fest can be purchased in advance.

Tour de Jefferson and LIVEWELL Fest apparel is available, including t-shirts, men’s and women’s tanks and cycling jerseys! View the apparel options here and pre-order at tourdejefferson.org. Jerseys available until August 4^th. All other apparel until August 14^th.

The Jefferson Chamber would like to thank its growing list of event sponsors: American Heart Association, Atmos Energy, Bag of Donuts, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, Buisson Creative, Entergy, Humana, IBERIABANK, Jefferson Financial Federal Credit Union, Laitram, LCMC Health, Ochsner, Postlethwaite & Netterville, Treasure Chest Casino, Whitney Bank and 1^st Lake Properties.

Media are welcome to attend.

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About the Jefferson Chamber:
The Jefferson Chamber is a leading voice for Jefferson Parish’s business community. As a non-profit, membership-driven organization, the Chamber is an effective advocate for small and large businesses at the local, state and federal levels. The Chamber’s mission is to work for the advancement of the business community; to enhance the economic, civic and cultural environment; and to improve the quality of life in Jefferson Parish. The Jefferson Chamber is Four-Star Accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was awarded the 2013 and 2015 Chamber of the Year Award by the Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives in the Large Chamber Category.

For more information about the Jefferson Chamber, visit www.jeffersonchamber.org, and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

WHAT: The Jefferson Chamber, along with executives from top employers in Jefferson Parish, have declared January as “Healthy Business Month”. The businesses below have made a commitment to the overall health of their workforce and have agreed to sign on as a “Healthy Business Partner” of the Chamber.

This month, the Chamber will be rolling out new features to assist and celebrate businesses that find value in a healthy workforce. The Chamber will also announce how it will incorporate health and wellness into its programming and communications.

WHO: President of the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, Todd Murphy, will be joined by:

• Rhonda R. Bagby, Humana Health Benefit Plan of Louisiana, Inc.
• Emily Arata and Beth Walker, Ochsner Health System
• Gordon Wadge, YMCA of Greater New Orleans
• Valerie Englade, East Jefferson General Hospital
• Ronald Helwig, Magnolia Physical Therapy
• Rich Baudry, Baudry Therapy
• Jim Pittman, Smoking Cessation Trust
• Frank LaBiche, Laitram
• Donna Austin, Peoples Health
• Taslin Alfonzo, West Jefferson Medical Center
• Rod Teamer, Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Frances Maness, HCA/Tulane Lakeside

WHERE: Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, 3421 N. Causeway Blvd., Ste. 203, Metairie, LA 70002

WHEN: Thursday, January 19, 2017, at 8:45 a.m.

WHY:  Louisiana currently ranks 48^th in the country in overall health. We lead the nation in statistics for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other potentially preventable chronic diseases. This status comes at not only an incredible cost to our residents, but also to attracting and maintaining the vitality of businesses in our community. Since people spend most of their day at work, the workplace is the ideal location to initiate and implement healthy habits.

Media is encouraged to attend. For more information, please contact Christy Marino at (504) 835-3880 or christy@jeffersonchamber.org.

Photo Opportunity: Corporate leaders signing commitment letter during event.

Interview Opportunity: One-on-one interview opportunities with Todd Murphy, Laitram employee Gregg Schenck and executives from Peoples Health, Laitram, Humana Health Benefit Plan of Louisiana, Inc., Ochsner Health System, YMCA of Greater New Orleans, East Jefferson General Hospital, Magnolia Physical Therapy, Baudry Therapy, Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana, HCA/Tulane Lakeside, Smoking Cessation Trust and more.

About the Jefferson Chamber:

The Jefferson Chamber is a leading voice for Jefferson Parish’s business community. As a non-profit, membership-driven organization, the Chamber is an effective advocate for small and large businesses at the local, state and federal levels. The Chamber’s mission is to work for the advancement of the business community; to enhance the economic, civic and cultural environment; and to improve the quality of life in Jefferson Parish. The Jefferson Chamber is Four-Star Accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was awarded the 2013 and 2015 Chamber of the Year by the Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives in the Large Chamber Category.

For more information about the Jefferson Chamber, visit www.jeffersonchamber.org, and follow on Facebook, Twitter @jeffersoncoc, Instagram @jefferson_chamber, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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