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Fort Worth, Texas Wins Sister Cities International’s Innovation Award for Business and Trade

WASHINGTON, DC – Fort Worth, Texas has won the Sister Cities International 2019 Innovation Award for Business and Trade for a city with a population greater than 100,000. The awards competition, which is open to over 500 sister city programs nationwide, recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding individuals and community sister city programs that are promoting peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation.

In the fall of 2018, Fort Worth Sister Cities International, Wild Acre Brewing Co. collaborates with the city of Trier, Germany to introduce the first-ever collaborative beer at the 5th annual Oktoberfest in Fort Worth. The brew master from German-based Kraft Bräu brewery in Trier attended and tapped the keg of the collaborative beer called Wild Acre Kraft Haus Lager. Similarly, Fort Worth companies Best Maid Pickles and Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. both found a natural partner in Nagaoka, Japan. Best Maid Pickles and Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. (producers of TX Whiskey) were intrigued by this opportunity. Both companies brought samples of their products to Japan and a tasting was arranged with members of Nagaoka’s Chamber of Commerce small business group.

Because of this exchange, the two breweries of Fort Worth and Trier were able to connect and share ideas on exchange and commerce. They were able to display the Fort Worth Sister Cities partnership with Trier through news and media with a press release, e-blast, news coverage and recognition at the two special events (reception at Wild Acre Brewing Co. and Fort Wurst, a 3-day festival in Fort Worth). Meanwhile, many business and community leaders in Nagaoka thought the “Pickles & Whiskey” business exchange was very fruitful and created an insightful window into the business culture of both countries. Overall, Fort Worth Sister Cities sustains the relationships that help businesses connect globally and thrive locally. The ability to sustain these longtime relationships provides fertile ground for business to grow.

“We all stand to learn from these superstar Sister City programs as they impact their communities across a broad range of sectors that include business entrepreneurship, youth leadership, and arts and culture,” said Roger-Mark De Souza, Sister Cities International’s President & CEO. “These individuals and local organizations inspire us to be better citizens as their work exemplifies President Eisenhower’s vision of engaged international citizen diplomats. They create beneficial connections and lasting relationships which will help their communities today and for years to come.”

Sister Cities International Annual Awards recognize excellence in overall programming and highlight key innovations in arts and culture; business and trade; humanitarian assistance; youth and education; and professional and technical exchange categories. We also honor a Volunteer of the Year and our Youth Leadership who demonstrate exceptional efforts to advance peace through citizen diplomacy. This year we will honor all our award winners during SCI’s 2019 Annual Conference from July 17-19 in Houston, Texas.

The conference will bring together hundreds of the most influential citizen diplomats and global leaders in diplomacy, foreign affairs, policy, business, and innovation to discuss, share examples, and network. This year’s theme, Cities Mean Business, will focus on smart and resilient cities, leadership development, and entrepreneurship as key building blocks of President Eisenhower’s vision of creating a more peaceful world through citizen engagement and international cooperation between cities.

Founded as a Presidential Initiative by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, Sister Cities International serves as the national membership organization for 500 member communities with over 2,000 partnerships in more than 140 countries on six continents. The sister city network unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers who work tirelessly to promote the organizations’ mission of creating world peace and understanding through programs and projects focusing on arts and culture, youth and education, business and trade, and community development.

About Fort Worth Sister Cities:

Contact: Mae Ferguson ([email protected])