RACINE, WI (WTAQ) - Racine has been given a rare national honor for promoting wellness.

Several hundred people celebrated Wednesday, as Racine was designated a “Well City USA.”

The Wellness Council of America gives the designation to communities where employers that represent 20 percent of a city’s population promote employee wellness. In Racine’s case, the figure is 26 percent – or about 16,000 employees.

A project group from the Leadership Racine program sought the designation starting in 2008. And it’s pretty rare.

Last year, only 83 U.S. companies were declared as “Well Workplaces.” 25 were in Wisconsin, and 10 of those were in Racine.