Innovative jobs, cleanup program in Portland wins national award

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An innovative partnership that creates work opportunities and cleans litter from Portland's public spaces is getting a $275,000 boost, thanks to a grant from America's beverage companies and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Mayor Keith Wilson, Gov. Tina Kotek, and representatives from Ground Score Association, a nonprofit that creates work opportunities for local waste pickers, celebrated the first-place award Tuesday, joining representatives from the U.S. Conference of Mayors and American Beverage.

Ground Score's GLITTER program receives City funding to clean streets and sidewalks and collect waste and hazardous microdebris - small pieces of waste that can easily enter storm drains, streams, and rivers if not properly removed. GLITTER hires people who have experienced homelessness or housing insecurity, making the program a win-win for Portland: cleaner public spaces and meaningful work opportunities. More than 70% of GLITTER's houseless workers have become housed since working in the program, according to the nonprofit.

The first-place award will allow the City to expand its Waste and Wellness Initiative, which supports GLITTER. The award was originally announced at the winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, DC, where mayors from across the nation gathered to highlight innovative, community-driven approaches to building healthier and more sustainable cities.

"This award shows that Portland can care for our environment and our neighbors at the same time. When we invest in people, we build a cleaner, healthier, stronger city - and that's exactly what this partnership delivers," said Mayor Keith Wilson.

"I am so proud of the innovation and compassion of Ground Score's program," said Governor Tina Kotek. "We can care for our neighbors, our community, and our environment all at the same time. Well done, Ground Score!"

"What GLITTER does is to give people hope, and make them feel like they're not forgotten," said Angela McGuire, GLITTER program manager. "We are here to help people regain their stability, regain their self-confidence, and to rebuild themselves. That's what we do. We're not just here to clean up trash."

"For more than a century, our success as an industry has been inseparable from the success of the communities where we operate - the places our employees and our consumers live, work and raise their families," said Kevin Keane, president and CEO of American Beverage and president of the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America Board of Directors. "America's beverage companies have been proud to partner with the U.S. Conference of Mayors to support cities that are turning innovative health and sustainability ideas into measurable, community-driven results. We congratulate Mayor Keith Wilson for his Waste and Wellness Package program. By working together, this program shows what's possible when local leadership is matched with sustained investment and collaboration."

"The partnership between the American Beverage Association and the U.S. Conference of Mayors is truly one of a kind," said USCM CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran. "For more than a decade, we've invested millions in programs that make a real difference on the ground - helping cities strengthen communities and improve outcomes for children and families across the nation. At a time when local leaders are being asked to do more than ever, this partnership stands as a powerful example of how public and private sectors can work together to deliver real results."

Including this year's awards, the partnership has invested more than $8 million in 93 cities nationwide since 2012.

Watch a video about GLITTER's work to bring hope to Portland's streets.

About American Beverage

American Beverage (AB) is the trade association that represents America's non-alcoholic beverage industry. AB represents hundreds of beverage producers, distributors, franchise companies, and support industries. To learn more, visit americanbeverage.org.

About the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America

The American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA) is dedicated to strengthening communities from coast to coast to create positive change for our nation. Since the Foundation's inception, it has provided millions of dollars in grants directly to organizations and cities making a real impact on the lives of real people. To learn more, visit beveragefoundation.org.

About the United States Conference of Mayors

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, each represented by its chief elected official, the mayor.