American Heart Association names Mohawk Valley ‘Fit-Friendly Worksites’

UTICA — The American Heart Association (AHA) last week announced it is recognizing 15 Utica–Rome area organizations as “Fit-Friendly Worksites.”

Each organization promotes physical activity and health in the workplace. AHA is recognizing the 15 employers for their efforts in the most recent application period, the organization said in a news release.

AHA is honoring Gilroy, Kernan & Gilroy Insurance of New Hartford for renewing its platinum-level Fit-Friendly status.

In addition, Oneonta Bagel Company achieved gold-level Fit-Friendly status, while 13 other organizations renewed their gold-level status, AHA said.

They included AmeriCU Credit Union, Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare, St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Rome Memorial Hospital, First Source Federal Credit Union, NBT Bancorp of Norwich, and Utica College, AHA said.

Under the Fit-Friendly Worksite designation, the AHA works with area employers on their health and wellness programs.

Fit-Friendly Worksites implement various activities and programs to encourage physical activity and nutrition to reach gold and platinum-level status, AHA said.

They include on-site walking routes, healthy food choices in cafeterias and vending machines, annual employee health-risk assessments, and online tracking tools, the organization added.

The program offers a “unique, easy-to-implement” opportunity for corporations to increase employees’ physical activity, which will help improve their health and the company’s bottom line, Dick Mattia, Utica director of the American Heart Association, said in the news release.

“Even people who haven’t exercised regularly until middle age can reap significant benefits by starting a walking program,” Mattia said.

The next application deadline is April 1.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com