Mayors are on the frontlines of their communities—driving solutions and making positive change. That’s why ABA and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America are proud of our partnerships with both the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) to advance grant programs that help make our communities healthier.

Together, through the “Childhood Obesity Prevention & Environmental Health and Sustainability Awards,” USCM and our Foundation have jointly awarded more than $5 million over the last 12 years to more than 60 cities across the country to support innovative programs that enhance the health, wellness and environmental quality of life for children and families. In 2023, first place grants for large, medium and small cities were awarded to: Charlotte, N.C., and Mayor Vi Alexander Lyles’ Deputy Diversion program; Lansing, Mich., and Mayor Andy Schor’s Grow Lansing mini-grants program; and Village of Oak Park, Ill., and Mayor Vicki Scaman for the Cross Community Climate Collaborative (C4) partnership between 15 communities and several nonprofits.

AAMA and the Foundation also were honored to announce this year the inaugural recipients of the “Nutrition Access, Affordability, and Education” grant program. This grant program helps support mayors as they address inequities that impact the people and places they represent. Four grants totaling $525,000 were awarded to: Houston, Texas, and Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Young Agri-business Leaders of Houston education program; Baton Rouge, La., and Mayor Sharon Weston Broome’s Geaux Get Healthy program; Newport News, Va., and its Sarfan Food Forest; and Greenville, Miss., and its FoodCorps program.

The Foundation also provides grants through a matching program with state beverage associations in support of community organizations working on the nutritional, physical and environmental health of their communities. This year, the Foundation awarded grants totaling $230,000 to 14 organizations in nine states.