Texas Border Business
For the fourth year in a row, the City of McAllen was not only the winner for its size category in the 2021 IT’S TIME TEXAS (ITT) Community Challenge, which ended February 29, but also, the top point getter in the entire state of Texas three years running now, as well. More than 3,577 members of the McAllen community participated, earning over five million points during the challenge – 5,001,600 to be exact – more than any other city in Texas by over 2.8 million points. McAllen residents submitted over 27,401 health activities they participated in over the eight-week challenge, including hosting 24 virtual/social distanced events and taking 124 health pledges. They also collected 20,373 virtual high fives.
“This was a unique opportunity for McAllen residents to get healthy. It was a win all the way around. We increased healthy activity and we have bragging rights – AGAIN – for being one of the healthiest large cities in Texas,” Mayor Jim Darling said. “I am so proud of our community for stepping up and showing their commitment to a healthier future.”
This growing statewide competition encouraged communities of all sizes, including schools, businesses, and mayors, to commit to healthy living and ultimately transform the community’s health. More than 17,975 Texans representing over 331 communities participated this year.
Once again, Mayor Darling and the McAllen City Commission signed a healthy pledge as part of the challenge and joined in partnership with McAllen I.S.D. to promote healthy living and active lifestyles among all of its residents, including the youth. In fact, McAllen I.S.D. contributed 4,290,150 million points which led to a first-place finish in state in the school-district category.
Mayor Darling and Dr. J.A. Gonzalez, McAllen I.S.D. Superintendent teamed up to encourage the community at large and everyone at the school district to not only sign up for the challenge and help McAllen and McAllen I.S.D. win their respective categories, but also, to live healthier, active lives. The public service announcement also ended with a light-hearted note, highlighting the close relationship the two entities share and their willingness to go above and beyond to help their community. See the video here: https://youtu.be/tL7Ql-OzzqA
The partnership with McAllen I.S.D. was extremely important to the City of McAllen, as establishing healthy habits now will mean a healthier adult in the future. Additionally,
“I am so proud once again that our community came together to communicate the importance of a healthy lifestyle,” said McAllen City Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E. “McAllen continues to shine among cities across this great State of Texas. Winning this challenge should send a strong message that we are committed to continue to improve our health for both employees of the City of McAllen and citizens throughout our wonderful city.”
Like all things, the pandemic played a part in shaping how the annual competition was held. Participants were asked to download the ITT mobile app and upload all of their activities to the app. Previously, cities were encouraged to host free, community-wide healthy group activities, this year, those activities could
only be held virtually. Still, the City of McAllen hosted several walks and yoga events, virtually, and Mayor Darling hosted a virtual and socially-distanced walk around McAllen City Hall and at a local park.
The City of McAllen Health & Code Enforcement Department reached out to partnering agencies in the community, including private businesses to get involved and signed up. This year, 13 businesses took the pledge, hoping to get not only the community, but also and just as importantly, their own employees healthy and living active and well. Additionally, two McAllen businesses also signed up under the employer competition, as well.
“This healthy challenge invited the McAllen community to get in the game, especially because of the pandemic,” said Steven Kotsatos, Director, City of McAllen Health & Code Enforcement Department. “We leveraged the strength of our organization, the citizens, businesses, schools, and non-profits and we won the competition, and more importantly, encouraged more residents to get started, or continue on their health goals.”
“This was a great opportunity to see the entire organization of the City of McAllen work towards a common goal that was beneficial not only to themselves, but also, to the community. It was an awesome experience for everyone involved.”
The competition pitted cities of similar size against each other. McAllen competed against Garland, Pasadena, Round Rock, as well as neighboring cities Edinburg, placed third and Brownsville, which placed fourth, to name a few. Rio Grande Valley cities not only won, but placed in their respective sized categories, including, for medium-sized cities: Pharr, first; Harlingen, second; and Weslaco, third. In the small-sized city category, winners included Los Fresnos, first; San Juan, second; Alamo, fourth; and Hidalgo, fifth.
An awards ceremony is being held in April to recognize those individuals and businesses that helped to contribute to the win.
With Texas recently ranks 14th among states struggling with high obesity rates, the annual community challenge is a much-needed and impactful program which pulls together partnerships at all levels, from businesses and government to schools, nonprofits and faith-based organizations. Within the first nine years, the IT’S TIME TEXAS Community Challenge has inspired millions of healthy actions and has engaged Texas communities of all sizes.
Participating McAllen Businesses:
- Pura Nutrition
- Orangetheory Fitness
- Subway #5429
- Koko’s Restaurant
- Valley Running Company
- Aqua Tots Swim School
- LS Fitness Center
- JJ’s Party House
- McAllen Nut & Bolt
- Boggus Ford Lincoln
- LFD Home Furnishing
- Planet Fitness
- Power Up Nutrition
 Community Challenge, which ended February 29, but also, the top point getter in the entire state of Texas three years running now, as well.){kind=link}