About Well City

Milwaukee has been declared one of the healthiest cities in the nation and the largest city in the Midwest to receive the coveted Well City USA designation from the Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA), the nations’ premier workplace wellness organization.

The Well City USA designation was a concept created in 1991 by WELCOA, an international non-profit health promotion organization. The Well Workplace/Well City USA initiative challenges local business communities to work together toward building healthier communities, starting in the workplace.  Achieving Well City USA designation requires that 20% of a community's working population must be employed by Well Workplace Award-winning companies/organizations.  The Well City USA designation is awarded at the Bronze, Silver or Gold level.

To become involved in this initiative, Milwaukee business leaders were required to develop and submit to WELCOA a strategic plan, budget and letters of commitment from the leadership and business communities.  Once accepted for participation, WELCOA require the process to be completed within three years. When businesses and organizations sign on to participate, they commit to developing and implementing results driven, best practice employee wellness programs.  In return, Well City provides their wellness and human resource representatives with training, resources and support on how to develop and deliver worksite wellness programs with the goal of meeting the Well Workplace criteria. Well Workplace Awards are given at five levels: Small Business, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

In 2010, Milwaukee reached the first step in workplace wellness by receiving Well City designation. Moving forward, the goal is to continue on the path to healthier lifestyles by broadening and deepening our outreach with employers to make workplace wellness standard practice  in the Milwaukee business community.

Click here to download a Well City Milwaukee brochure.