AUBURN — Healthy Androscoggin recognized this year’s Work Healthy Award-winning businesses during the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce breakfast at Hilton Garden Inn. This year’s 29 businesses employ nearly 9,000 employees across Androscoggin County.

The Work Healthy Award program recognizes businesses for their wellness efforts in supporting tobacco-free and substance-free lifestyles, physical activity, healthy eating, and breastfeeding in the workplace. Employers who support the wellness of their employees benefit from higher morale, reduced absenteeism, and positive community impressions.

This year’s award ceremony focused on local innovators, showcasing how local employers can create programs that support employee wellness in Androscoggin County.

Central Maine Orthopaedics was recognized for its grass-roots employee wellness initiatives, including a running club and the CMO “Olympics”, for which they even shut down the practice for a half day to support wellness! Central Maine Medical Center’s Family Residency incorporated wellness into a weeklong program of staff, resident and patient activities, taking an innovatively holistic approach to wellness in the workplace.

University of Southern Maine Lewiston-Auburn Campus was recognized for its integrated policy and planning support in becoming a tobacco-free campus, incorporating education and resources for both employees and students. General Electric was recognized for leading the way in addressing chronic disease by offering onsite health screenings, instant results, and tailored education.

Lastly, The Dingley Press was recognized for innovation in employee health through supporting healthy eating, onsite nutrition education, and partnering with a local farm to offer employees community supported agriculture.

This year’s Gold Award winners were: Auburn-Lewiston YMCA, Central Maine Medical Center, Central Maine Orthopaedics PA, Community Concepts Inc., Geiger Group, General Electric, Occupational Medical Consulting LLC, Procter & Gamble-Tambrands, Schooner Estates, St. Mary’s Health System, Thayer Corporation, and University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College.

Silver Award recipients were: Androscoggin Bank, city of Lewiston, Evergreen Subaru, FISC Solutions, Mechanics Savings Bank, Safe Voices, and The Dingley Press.

Bronze Award recipients were: Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care, Austin Associates PA, Bangor Savings Bank, Canteen Service Company, International Paper, and Tri-County Mental Health Services.

Merit Award recipients: Staff Management Office 0117

Healthy Androscoggin is a community coalition funded in part by the Fund for a Healthy Maine and is a Healthy Maine Partnership. For more information, call Katherine Lary 795-7881.