Seven cities win $600K in grants to boost nutrition and community health

By African American Mayors Association

More than half a million dollars was awarded to seven cities to promote nutrition access, affordability and education.

The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA), in partnership with American Beverage, today named seven cities with African American mayors as recipients of significant grants to advance essential programs that improve community health.

ABFHA and AAMA awarded the seven grants totaling $600,000 to cities across four population categories:

• Large-Sized City ($175K): Atlanta, Ga.
• Mid-Sized City ($125K): New Orleans, La. and Savannah, Ga.
• Small-Sized City ($75K): Dumfries, Va. and Maywood, Ill. 
• Towns ($12.5K): Earle, Ark. and Rankin, Pa.

The announcement took place during the African American Mayors Association National Conference in Washington, D.C., April 16-18.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer this exciting grant opportunity to these cities which will allow them the opportunity to build upon their existing programs and develop new healthy food and nutrition programs for their residents,” said Phyllis Dickerson, CEO of the African American Mayors Association. “We are honored to again partner with the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America to address the issue of food insecurity and strengthen the health of our communities.”

Mayors in the selected cities will apply the funds towards resources such as community gardens, food pantries, produce distribution and healthy family cooking classes. These funds will help attract additional investments for the nutrition issues these cities are facing.

“Nutrition access, affordability and education are cornerstones of a healthy community. That’s why America’s beverage companies are proud to partner with AAMA to support mayors as they work tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of our communities,” said Kevin Keane, president and CEO of American Beverage and president of the ABFHA Board of Directors. “Our deep congratulations to the winning mayors and their cities on the outstanding efforts. These grants, coupled with delivering choice and information, will help our communities make the best choices for themselves and their families.” 

Since launching the partnership in 2022, 16 cities and towns have received more than $2 million in grants from ABFHA and AAMA to support nutrition and food access programs.

Grant winners were selected by a panel of judges composed of former mayors chosen by AAMA. Descriptions of each winning program can be found below.

Atlanta, Ga. plans to collaborate with communities, source local groceries and create a Goodr Grocery store in a public school where children and families can shop for high-quality, nutritious groceries at no cost. Though some compare it to a food pantry, the Goodr Grocery store takes the free grocery shopping experience to the next level with a physical store experience in a public school.

New Orleans, La. funds will go towards the expanded delivery of healthy, medically tailored foods through Top Box Foods (TBF), a product prescription program that partners with community health organizations to identify dietary needs of patients with diet related illnesses. The expansion would include expecting families and families with newborns through the New Orleans Health Department’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) programs and allow the distribution of prepared frozen meals in addition to a box of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Savannah, Ga. will use its funding to strengthen and provide further capacity to Healthy Savannah’s Savannah-Chatham Food Policy Council (SCFPC) to address the top food systems priorities identified by the community and address the root causes for food insecurity. The community is interested in the growing arm of the food system which focuses on urban agriculture, increased capacity for farmers and improving access to the resources needed to grow produce.

Dumfries, Va., will use its award to initiate the Boys and Girls Clubs’ “Healthy Habits” curriculum, which focuses on educating children about nutrition, physical activity, mental health support and healthy living practices. Partnerships with local food banks, health clinics and community organizations will expand access to nutritious food, healthcare and safe recreational opportunities.

Maywood, Ill. will apply its funds towards Dion’s Chicago Dream, an organization that has been working to bring health equity to less advantaged communities in Chicago and transform the landscape of food insecurity. Dion’s Dream has created a Dream Vault, a state of the art, Wi-Fi-enabled locker to be placed in a retails store or other community location which food insecure families can access weekly with a unique electronic code to get a box of healthy fresh fruits and vegetables. It makes the same level of high-quality produce available to residents in need with a destination system to match Dream Deliveries’ groundbreaking delivery system.

Earle, Ark. will establish The Roots and Routes; Earle’s Food Access Initiative which includes establishing a farmer’s market featuring local producers, creating community gardens at accessible locations, developing nutrition education programs in partnership with the school district, and creating a food policy council to address long-term food system needs.

Rankin, Pa. will put its funding toward Rankin Christian Center (RCC) which has provided services and support to the Rankin community since 1904. RCC developed Healthy Community Plate Nights as a way to bring families together in a safe environment and be educated, entertained and uplifted. They highlight the successes of young people, celebrate the family and support the community’s small businesses as they purchase meals and invite presenters from local providers, along with using the time to survey families to learn about the services and support they need.

AAMA is the only organization dedicated to representing over 500 African American mayors across the United States. AAMA seeks to empower local leaders for the benefit of their citizens. The role of the AAMA includes taking positions on public policies that impact the vitality and sustainability of cities; providing mayors with leadership and management tools; and creating a forum for member mayors to share best practices related to municipal management.

The American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America seeks to make a significant contribution to the health of local communities by providing grants to support community organizations that work to advance both the physical health of their local citizens and the environmental health of their communities. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) created and funded by America’s non-alcoholic beverage industry and is a reflection of the industry’s longstanding tradition of giving back to communities. Learn more at beveragefoundation.org.

Interviews/video playlist of grant recipients can be accessed here.