Hampton’s 5-2-1-0 program receives second year funding for additional projects

A collective movement to provide healthy, fun activities to the community recently received another round of funding.

The Iowa Council of Governments, through the Iowa Legislature, recently awarded communities funding for their individual 5-2-1-0 projects, which aim to promote healthier and more active lifestyles within their communities.

Hampton’s 5-2-1-0 initiative received its second year funding of $8,000 in late July. Hampton initially received $25,000 for its 5-2-1-0 program last year, which it has used to purchase equipment and establish programs throughout the community.

5-2-1-0 references the initiative’s mission to encourage children to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, limit screen time to two hours per day, achieve at least one hour of physical activity per day and drink zero sugary drinks.

Matt O’Brien, regional planner for the North Iowa Area Council of Governments (NIACOG), said that the second round of funding will further help Hampton’s 5-2-1-0 projects in place reach self-sustainability as well as establish new programs.

“With some of these activity stations, we want to ask if they need more funding,” he said. “We don’t want this to be a one and done thing, we want to get these programs to be self-sustaining.”

O’Brien added that self-sustainability is important, as Hampton is eligible for just one more round of funding.

“We want this to be a grassroots effort so once funding is gone, the individual entities can do it on their own and promote the message on their own,” he said.

So far, the 5-2-1-0 program in Hampton has benefitted entities in many public sectors including health, education and recreation. The funding has led to nearly a dozen new projects and activities, including equipment for the student garden at the Hampton-Dumont Middle School, sports equipment for Franklin County Family Focus, Franklin County Youth For Christ, the Franklin Wellness Center and the Hampton-Dumont Middle School, and educational materials and supplies for several organizations.

O’Brien said in order to determine what will be funded through the second year grant, a survey has been sent out to representatives of the sectors that collaborate on 5-2-1-0 projects. He said surveys will be returned by September 16 and then an action plan will be designed and submitted to the Iowa Department of Public Health by the end of December.

“It’s all about getting everyone on the same page and interested knowing they have the power and the authority to do something positive,” he said.