WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA) have announced New Albany as one of the winners of the 2024 Childhood Obesity Prevention & Environmental Health & Sustainability grant awards. Mayor Sloan Spalding accepted the award on behalf of the City of New Albany and Healthy New Albany. The $15k grant will be used for Healthy New Albany’s Fit & Fun Kids: Healthy Habits Heroes (F2KH3). 

Through F2KH3, New Albany youth will be offered various experiences, from fun nutrition classes to outdoor adventures like the New Albany Trail Blazers. The initiative teams up with the Healthy New Albany Food Pantry, ensuring families have access to wholesome meals and snacks. By making health enjoyable and accessible, F2KH3 is a model for fostering well-being in kids and communities.

New Albany was one of nine cities to be announced as a grant recipient on January 18 during the 92^nd Annual USCM Winter Meeting.

“America’s leading beverage companies are continuing to support healthy, sustainable communities across the nation alongside the mayors who know them best,” said Kevin Keane, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of American Beverage and president of the ABFHA board of directors. “We congratulate the mayors, the cities and the many initiatives working to drive positive change. We are proud to celebrate more than a decade of this partnership with The U.S. Conference of Mayors, and we look forward to a bright future as we strengthen communities together.”

“The scope and ambition of the projects we’ve been able to award not only this year, but for the past twelve years, is a testament to the role of cities as incubators of innovation,” said Tom Cochran, CEO and executive director of The United States Conference of Mayors. “We’re so proud of the level of investment we’ve made in such bold and enterprising community-focused environmental and public health initiatives across the country, with the longstanding and critical support of American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America. We look forward to continued innovation, and investment, in our cities.”

Since the launch of the partnership in 2012, the Childhood Obesity Prevention & Environmental Health and Sustainability awards have provided more than $6.5 million to 73 cities across the country. The awards have supported programs to enhance the health, wellness, and environmental quality of life for children, families and communities.

The nine U.S. cities receiving 2024 awards are:

• Pittsburgh, Pa.
• Boston, Mass.
• Philadelphia, Pa.
• Alhambra, Calif.
• Bridgeport, Conn.
• Montgomery, Ala.
• Daytona Beach, Fla.
• Suisun City, Calif.
• New Albany, Ohio