News & Resources News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EL PASO, TEXAS – Project ARRIBA, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to workforce and economic development in El Paso, announced today that the organization is receiving $250,000 over the next three years in grant funds from Bank of America to help the program fill the rising need for healthcare workers in the area.
The El Paso region is experiencing a shortage of healthcare workers at a critical time, and this grant will help guide underemployed communities toward well-paying, stable jobs that directly impact the success of the region. In El Paso, 45% of the region’s Hispanic population does not have training beyond high school, and 45% of households in poverty are female-headed. ARRIBA’s programs connect individuals in the Hispanic community to critical resources like language courses and financial guidance that empower participants to seek higher education and fill important gaps in El Paso’s workforce.
“We’re incredibly thankful for this contribution from Bank of America,” said Roman Ortiz, CEO for Project ARRIBA. “This generous gift bolsters our efforts to invest in this region and its people and ensures we can continue offering the resources and guidance necessary to connect El Pasoans with jobs and opportunities that truly benefit our community.”
More than two decades of data collected as part of an impact study funded by the Hunt Family Foundation indicates that Project ARRIBA’s programs have added nearly $900 million in value to the El Paso economy, and further show that every dollar invested through ARRIBA’s programs returns more than $28 to the community.
“Health is one of the components that helps create vibrant and competitive communities, and that is why investing in our healthcare workforce is so key here to the future of El Paso,” said Woody L. Hunt, Chairman of the Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Foundation. “Project ARRIBA has become a crucial community partner that is helping build the next generation of healthcare workers who come from and understand the unique needs of our region and we’re excited to see their work and impact grow through the investment Bank of America is making in their successful model.”
This project is the most recent in a long history of development initiatives from Project ARRIBA aimed at assisting economically disadvantaged individuals in gaining the education and job skills needed for demand occupations that pay a family-sustaining, living wage in El Paso. These efforts create proven support systems that offer multigenerational opportunities to participants and their families. In 2019, registered nurses earned wages over $50,000, and continued growth in the region means skilled staff will remain in demand for years to come.
“Project ARRIBA’s 20-plus years of workforce development prove that investments in human capital create organic, impactful returns for the El Paso community,” said Kristi Marcum, Bank of America President in El Paso. “Supporting Project ARRIBA in their mission to generate social and economic equity is a natural extension of our work and part of our overall efforts to advance economic mobility here in El Paso.”
Bank of America has provided longstanding support to Project ARRIBA, including a donation of $40,000 last year to support its Building Pathways to the Middle Class through Higher Education Project.
This grant supports Bank of America’s focus on advancing racial equality and economic opportunity within its $1.25 billion commitment over five years. Announced in June of 2020 and expanded further in March of 2021, the bank’s commitment is focused on driving meaningful and lasting change in the areas of health, jobs and re-skilling, supporting minority-owned small businesses, and affordable housing.
###
About Project ARRIBA: Project ARRIBA (Advanced Retraining & Redevelopment Initiative in Border Areas) is a community-based nonprofit that operates as a workforce and economic development initiative in the Paso del Norte region. Thier mission is to assist economically disadvantaged individuals in gaining the education and job skills needed for demand occupations that pay a family-sustaining, living wage in El Paso, Texas. Project ARRIBA promotes a working partnership between community-based organizations, training institutions, and private corporate partners.
About Bank of America: At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).
CONTACT:
Carla Molina
Bank of America Media Relations
Carla.molina@bofa.com
(512) 397-2402