The City of Pine Bluff has received a $75K grant through the African American Mayors Association and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The City of Pine Bluff was among seven cities awarded grants from the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA).
The ABFHA and AAMA gave out a total of $600,000 in grants to the following seven cities across four population categories:
Large-Sized City ($175K): Durham, NC
Mid-Sized City ($125K): Evansville, IN & Jonesboro, GA
Small-Sized City ($75K): Pine Bluff, AR & Laurel, MD
Towns ($12.5K): Marianna, AR & North Courtland, AL
Grant winners were selected by a panel of judges composed of former mayors chosen by the AAMA.
According to organizers, the funds will help attract additional investments for nutrition issues that these cities are currently facing.
In regards to Arkansas, here’s AAMA’s descriptions of Pine Bluff’s and Marianna’s programs:
Pine Bluff, AR, will use its award for its program, From the Garden to the Kitchen, a youth-focused gardening, cooking, and wellness education program led by YEAH8. Funding will support hands-on activities that teach children how to grow fresh food, prepare healthy meals, and develop lifelong wellness habits. The program also incorporates youth media production training, giving students opportunities to film, host, and create educational content that promotes healthy living throughout the community. By expanding access to nutrition education, strengthening local partnerships, and providing safe, enriching learning opportunities, the grant will enhance YEAH8’s mission to empower Pine Bluff youth and families through health, creativity, and community engagement.
Marianna, AR, will use the funds towards its Delta Dream Food pantry, already a vital resource for families experiencing food insecurity, by expanding its role beyond food distribution to include education. A series of practical, hands-on workshops will be held at accessible community sites and cover such topics as Smart grocery shopping on a budget, understanding nutrition labels and portion sizes, preparing healthy meals using pantry staples and local produce, and safe food storage and handling practices.
Officials stated that mayors in the selected cities will apply the funds towards resources such as neighborhood pop-up sessions, healthy food pantries, nutrition workshops, community gardens, produce distribution, and family cooking classes.
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