Downtown Development Association

Nestled in the heart of the Grand Valley, and home to dozens of delightful shops, music venues, restaurants, galleries and area services, is Downtown Grand Junction. Come stroll along the lush, tree-lined streets complete with outdoor sculptures, fountains and historic buildings. This is Grand Junction’s #1 tourist attraction. Friendly service is what we do best. Our stores and restaurants are locally owned. Meet the owners as they give helpful advice with a smile. They enjoy visiting with the customers and take pride in the work they do. Whether you’re looking for a romantic dinner, a unique gift or a place to relax with the family, you’ll find what you’re looking for in Downtown Grand Junction.

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Grow Another Row

Grow Another Row is a community project connecting backyard gardeners to area food banks. Gardeners who anticipate having extra vegetables or fruit or who plant an extra row with this project in mind register with Grow Another Row . Then, volunteers collect the fresh produce and deliver it to area food banks. Gardeners provide their extra produce as it is available. Volunteers work according to their own schedule and can collect from as many gardeners as they wish. There are back-ups to assist volunteers during vacations and such. It was organized in the late spring of 2009 and began making pick-ups and deliveries of fresh produce on June 26, 2009. 5,928 pounds of food were delivered in 2009. It all went to organized food banks that provide services free to people in need and that can handle and wants fresh produce. If you are interested in working with Grow Another Row to fight hunger in the Grand Valley, please call 970-314-7389

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Go, Slow, Whoa

LiveWell has partnered with District 51 Nutrition Services to provide healthy foods for students. They implemented the new menu concept, Go, Slow, Whoa in all elementary schools. It is an easy way for to empower kids to make healthy food choices at school, and to enable parents to discuss the options with their kids. Every parent received a calendar, identifying all of the menu items as entire menu Go, Slow, or Whoa foods. Kids are taught that GO are the healthiest and they should choose these most often. SLOW foods are nutrtitional, but have a little more fat and calories, and should be selected less frequently. WHOA foods are the highest in fat and calories. And will likely cause weight or health problems if eaten all the time. Nutrition services has also committed to serving all low or non-fat milk, whole grains, healthier ala carte choices, and more local fresh fruits and veggies. Parents can also watch Channel 11 lunchkins each morning for Go, Slow, Whoa menus and check out parent bridge or meal pay plus? to see what your kids are eating.

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Grand Valley Recreation Resources, Inc.

Think it. Dream it. Make it HAPPEN. For over 40 years our community has been asking for a place where the whole family can gather and play! Grand Valley Recreation Resources was founded in response to this request. It is a Non-Profit (501c3) organization dedicated to providing facilities and programming enhancing opportunities for recreation and community gatherings in Western Colorado’s Grand Valley. With an over 80 member steering committee and an 18 person board we are committed to creating a facility serving all walks of life and promoting healthy fun! Visit their site for pictures of proposed plans, FAQ, and more information.

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Girls on the Run

Girls on the Run of Western Colorado is a life-changing, non-profit prevention program for girls in the 3rd through 8th grade. Girls on the Run is an after school program that uses the power of running to help prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. Through interactive activities, such as running, playing games, and discussing important issues, participants learn how to celebrate being girls. The program focuses on building self-esteem and improving emotional and physical health. Coaches teach the girls life lessons such as body image, resisting peer pressure, making healthy decisions and contributing to the community. Along the way, the girls train together to walk or a run a 5K. For more information about participating or volunteering visit their site http://www.girlsontherungv.com/ or watch the LiveWell on Location show, “Anyone can run a 5k.”

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Grassroots Advocacy Power Program (GAPP)

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, obesity is the single greatest public health threat to the nation. Poor nutrition and lack of physical activity are the second leading preventable causes of death in the US. LiveWell Colorado (link http://www.livewellcolorado.org/ ) seeks to reverse these trends through GAPP. They are asking you to join GAPP to advocate on behalf of your friends, family and community to influence public policy impacting healthy eating and active living. GAPP makes it EASY for you to speak up. They provide you with background information, tools and sample messaging that allow you to reach out, voice your opinion and make a difference with just one or two minutes of your time.

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Access to Healthy Foods

LiveWell is partnering with the Downtown Development Authority to develop a system where food stamps can be utilized at the Downtown Farmers’ Market. LiveWell is also partnering with Grow Another Row to increase the amount of fresh produce at local food banks, and to provide healthy recipes, so that recipients can use it confidently.

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Breast Feeding

LiveWell is committed to creating a breastfeeding-friendly environment in health-care settings, workplaces, and throughout the community. The well-recognized, diverse health benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers make successful breastfeeding an essential part of living well. Congratulations to those organizations that are making Mesa County breastfeeding-friendly: Mesa Mall (has two nursing rooms and family restrooms) Canyon View Vineyard Church ( has a nursing mothers’ room), Mesa County Health Department ( has a lactation room for employees). Look for this symbol at local businesses that support breastfeeding.