The Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Employee Benefit Trust has named Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department one of 111 winners of its distinguished WellCity Award. This recognition goes to cities and public entities that meet stringent WellCity standards, which demonstrate their commitment to employee health.

Award winners are all part of AWC’s Employee Benefit Trust, a health insurance pool that provides coverage to more than 14,000 employees and family members across the state. When an employer meets the WellCity standards, they earn a two percent discount on their medical premiums for the next calendar year.

For the Health Department, this is a reduction of $54,000 from the estimated 2016 medical premium cost. The Health Department was among 13 first-time winners of the AWC award in 2015.

“Many of our employees model healthy behaviors at work and in their own lives, and we support them,” said Director of Health, Anthony L-T Chen, MD, MPH.

“The Health Department encourages other Pierce County businesses and organizations to support healthier behaviors through workplace policies, environments and wellness programs,” Chen added.

For a complete list of the cities that earned this year’s award, visit www.awcnet.org/wellcityawards.

Founded in 1933, the Association of Washington Cities is a private, non-profit, non-partisan corporation that provides legislative representation, educational training, technical assistance, municipal liability insurance, health insurance and other services to Washington’s cities and towns.