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American Beverage and U.S. Mayors Grant $1 Million to Nine Cities for Health Initiatives

In an inspiring move to support public health and environmental sustainability, America's Beverage Companies, along with the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA) and the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), have awarded a total of $1 million in grants to nine cities as part of the 2026 Healthy and Sustainable Communities Awards. This initiative highlights a significant commitment to fostering communities that promote healthier lifestyles and protect the environment.

At the announcement ceremony held during the 94th Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., it was revealed that Portland (OR), Sacramento (CA), Arlington (TX), Findlay (OH), Riviera Beach (FL), Schenectady (NY), Spokane (WA), Bridgeport (CT), and Rochester (MN) were selected based on their groundbreaking health initiatives.

Kevin Keane, President and CEO of American Beverage, expressed pride in this decade-long partnership, stating, _“Strong communities are built locally, by leaders who understand their cities and the people they serve.”_ He emphasized the positive impact of local leadership combined with ongoing investment and collaboration, noting that over the past decade, the program has allocated more than $8 million in support of innovative and sustainable health solutions across 93 cities nationwide.

Highlights of Winning Programs

Small City Winners:

1. Findlay, OH: Mayor Christina Muryn's Urban Prairie Pilot Project aims to transform flood-damaged grasslands into a five-acre native prairie. This initiative is designed to enhance biodiversity, improve stormwater management, and provide an educational resource for the community.

2. Riviera Beach, FL: The Healthy Wallets, Healthy Lives Initiative, led by Mayor Douglas Lawson, supports low-to-moderate-income families by integrating financial literacy, nutrition education, and access to recreational activities—all aimed at improving both economic stability and health outcomes.

3. Schenectady, NY: Mayor Gary McCarthy's Live Well Schenectady offers a combination of community gardening and educational programs to boost healthy eating and physical activity, targeting food insecurity and promoting environmental engagement through activities like trash clean-up and gardening education.

Medium-Sized City Winners:

1. Spokane, WA: Under Mayor Lisa Brown's leadership, the Student-Led Youth Wellness Zone empowers local youth to address issues like food insecurity and anxiety, leveraging schoolyard forests, greenhouses, composting initiatives, and food distribution efforts.

2. Bridgeport, CT: Mayor Joseph Ganim's Greenhouse Impact connects younger students with seniors through a community greenhouse initiative, fostering intergenerational bonds while promoting healthy eating habits across age groups.

3. Rochester, MN: The Move to the Market program encourages low-income families to visit farmers’ markets by offering food vouchers that increase in value with physical activity, aiming to boost fruit and vegetable intake while addressing mobility issues.

Large City Winners:

1. Portland, OR: Mayor Keith Wilson’s Waste and Wellness Package not only creates jobs for formerly homeless or economically disadvantaged individuals but also significantly enhances stormwater management and public health engagement through environmental clean-up efforts.

2. Sacramento, CA: Mayor Kevin McCarty's initiative provides disadvantaged students with experiences at farmers’ markets and community gardens, aiming to improve awareness and consumption of fresh produce.

3. Arlington, TX: The Feeding Children, Fueling the Future initiative aims to modernize summer meal programs, significantly expanding access to nutritional meals for children throughout the city.

Long-Lasting Commitment

This annual grant program reflects America's Beverage Companies' dedication to resolving critical health and environmental challenges through community-driven initiatives. As U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO Tom Cochran articulated, this collaboration showcases the compelling results achievable when public and private sectors unite for the common good of communities.

Conclusion

The 2026 Healthy and Sustainable Communities Awards not only serve as an acknowledgment of outstanding local leadership but also as a reminder of the potential for innovative solutions to improve the quality of life for citizens across the nation. As these cities implement their awarded projects, they set exemplary standards for others, encouraging a nationwide movement toward sustainability and health.

For more information about American Beverage and the impactful initiatives they support, visit americanbeverage.org.