SCARBOROUGH — The American Heart Association announced that several Maine employers have received national recognition for promoting physical activity and health in the workplace through the “Fit Friendly Company” program.

The Fit Friendly Company program is part of the AHA’s national healthy living initiative, My Heart. My Life. It offers a simple set of solutions that focus on improving nutrition, physical activity and children’s health.

Organizations reach Fit Friendly Gold-level status by implementing various activities and programs to encourage physical activity, nutrition and culture enhancements, such as on-site walking routes, healthy food choices in cafeterias and vending machines, annual employee health risk assessments, and online tracking tools.

Gold level organizations in the area include: City of Auburn; City of Lewiston; Maine Oxy; Proctor & Gamble; Staff Management; and St. Mary’s Health System.

Applying for the program is free and those who are denied will receive useful tips and tools from the AHA on how to improve their workplace wellness programs so that you can reapply. Applications are reviewed twice per year. The next deadline is Jan. 31, 2013.