Oak Harbor Earns 2026 WellCity Distinction, 20th Year, 2% Premium Discount

Oak Harbor has been recognized as a 2026 WellCity by the Association of Washington Cities Employee Benefit Trust, marking the city’s 20th consecutive year earning the designation and securing a 2% premium discount on its 2027 active medical premiums. City officials framed the award as both a financial and cultural win for municipal employees.

The city announced the recognition on March 2, 2026, in Oak Harbor, WA. Oak Harbor is one of 127 Trust members to receive the 2026 WellCity distinction from the AWC Employee Benefit Trust, a program that rewards municipal employers for workplace wellness efforts and employee health commitments.

The city highlighted the program’s purpose in its announcement: "This distinction honors Trust members that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to employee health and workplace wellness." The press release also cited the Trust’s description of WellCities: "WellCities are great places to work, offering quality, sustainable benefits and an environment that prioritizes employee health. A healthy workplace culture leads to happy, healthy, and productive employees who are fully engaged in serving their community."

City officials emphasized continuity and investment in employee well-being. "The City is proud to announce it has once again been recognized as a 2026 WellCity by the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Employee Benefit Trust," the release stated, and added, "The City is honored to be among the 127 Trust members earning the 2026 WellCity distinction and remains committed to promoting a healthy, supportive workplace for all employees."

Mayor Wright acknowledged the staff who support the city’s wellness efforts: "With this recognition, we celebrate the dedication of our employees and the incredible work of our Wellness Committee," said Mayor Wright. "I want to personally thank the staff members from various departments who serve on the Wellness Committee."

The financial effect is explicit in the release: "As a 2026 WellCity recipient, the City will receive a 2% premium discount on its 2027 AWC Employee Benefit Trust active medical premiums. Beyond the financial benefit, the designation reflects the City’s ongoing investment in a workplace culture that supports employee well-being." The announcement did not include dollar figures for the 2% savings or a breakdown of specific wellness programs, naming instead the Wellness Committee as a focal point for the city’s work.

For more information about the WellCity program and a full list of recipients, the city directed readers to Wellness Program for Employees | Oak Harbor, WA. Media inquiries are handled by Magi Aguilar, Communications Officer, at maguilar@oakharbor.org. Oak Harbor’s two-decade streak positions the municipal workforce to benefit from modest premium savings in 2027 while signaling sustained institutional emphasis on employee health.