The town of Baltimore was awarded a $200,000 grant Friday from the African American Mayors Affiliation (AAMA) and the American Beverage Basis for a Wholesome America (ABFHA) to advance important packages that enhance neighborhood well being.
Baltimore was one among 5 cities to obtain a complete of $600,000 in grants. Profitable cities had been introduced through the AAMA Nationwide Convention in Washington April 24-27.
Baltimore plans to use its funding to the Baltimore Metropolis Produce Field Distribution Program, the primary of its type in Maryland, created in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It gives a 15-pound field of recent regionally grown produce to Baltimore residents in Well being Meals Precedence Areas. The Produce Field Distribution Program is exclusive in the best way it companions with the 100 plus neighborhood organizations that assist to distribute produce at scale.
Baltimore gained its award within the large-sized metropolis class. Mid-sized cities Little Rock, Arkansas and Richmond, Virginia will every obtain grants of $125,000 and two grants of $75,000 have been awarded to Mount Vernon, New York and North Miami, Florida within the small-sized metropolis class.
That is the second 12 months of a three-year dedication between ABFHA and AAMA to award grants to cities.
Mayors within the chosen cities will apply the funds towards important sources comparable to neighborhood gardens, meals pantries, produce distribution and household wholesome cooking lessons. These funds will assist entice extra investments for the diet points these cities are dealing with.
Funds from this system are focused for metropolis packages that show measurable progress in a number of areas, together with rising entry to reasonably priced primary diet wants and academic elements that assist market this system to a mayor’s neighborhood; offering neighborhood outreach or assist educate residents about the advantages of this system; attracting matching grants or different funding {dollars}.