The University of Texas at El Paso has received a major grant aimed at improving heart health across the borderland.

The National Institutes of Health has awarded the UTEP college of health sciences nearly $2.7 million to fund a project to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce cardiovascular disease in El Paso.

The money will be distributed over a five-year period and was awarded through the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

UTEP faculty member Lee Rosenthal said, "We'll be focusing on creating opportunities for physical fitness activities with the YWCA and city parks and rec, working at after-school programs, and try to build on those opportunities and get more people to take advantage of them."

The project is known as Heart-Health Education Awareness.