Program Provides $200,000 in Flexible Funding to Each Organization and Leadership Development Training to Advance Economic Mobility in Portland
Portland, Ore. – Programs and services that address economic mobility and community development in Portland will be able to expand and scale their services, helping more people chart a path toward economic opportunity with help from multi-year grants from Bank of America. Hacienda Community Development Corp. (Hacienda CDC) and Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center and Foundation (Virginia Garcia) have been named as the 2022 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® awardees for their work in the Portland Metro region removing barriers and advancing economic opportunity.
Each organization receives a $200,000 grant over two years, comprehensive leadership training for the executive director and an emerging leader on topics ranging from increasing financial sustainability, human capital management and strategic storytelling, joins a network of peer organizations across the U.S., and gets the opportunity to access capital to expand their impact. The program continues to be the nation’s largest investment into nonprofit leadership development. Hacienda has proudly named Andréa Guedes, Hacienda’s Communications and Events Manager, as the 2022 Emerging Leader for this award.
“Nonprofits are vital to community resilience and prosperity. By addressing our critical local needs such as affordable housing and workforce development, they are helping to alleviate barriers so that individuals and families can chart a path toward economic opportunity and stability,” said Roger Hinshaw, president, Bank of America Oregon and Southwest Washington. “It is important that we direct capital, other necessary resources and training to support Hacienda CDC and Virginia Garcia for long-term success so they can continue to grow strategically and address the most pressing needs of our region.”
Hacienda CDC is the largest Latino-led housing organization in Oregon. Their mission is to strengthen families by providing affordable housing, homeownership support, economic advancement and educational opportunities for BIPOC and low-income communities. Hacienda CDC serves over 3,000 community members through affordable housing and a wide array of services such as homeownership classes, after-school programs, and small business advising and technical assistance. They will use their grant funding to launch a new home lending program, which will provide 100% financing for first time-homebuyers that meet participation and income qualifications to provide them with a secure pathway to homeownership.
“We are honored to be the recipient of the Neighborhood Builders grant which will increase our capacity to help community members reach their dreams and goals. For far too long, our Latino and underserved communities have experienced economic hardship and systemic barriers head on; and for the last 30 years Hacienda has been doing the work to provide them with new opportunities and support to build a brighter future,” said Ernesto Fonseca, chief executive officer, Hacienda CDC. “Whether its housing, business advising, and in the near future, home lending, we continue to provide new, innovative pathways that lead to success and stability for our communities. Thanks to investment like the Neighborhood Builders grant, we can continue to deepen our impact and look towards a brighter future for all.”
Virginia Garcia is the largest non-profit community health center in the state that ensures high quality, comprehensive and culturally appropriate access to health care for those who need it most. Virginia Garcia serves more than 52,000 patients in 18 clinics across Washington and Yamhill counties, providing primary care, dental care, pharmaceutical services, and more. They will use their grant funding to expand their new Virginia Garcia Healthcare Workforce Training Program, focused on medical assistants and dental assistants, and help pilot an expansion to include pharmacy technicians.
“We are grateful to Bank of America for their tremendous partnership and support of our Workforce Development efforts. These programs allow us to support staff and community members from our target populations as they start or advance their careers right here at Virginia Garcia. This generous funding will help us restore and rebuild our care teams, whose dedication in the face of all challenges, keeps our mission alive,” said Stefanny Caballero, executive director, Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation.
In Portland, 29 nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood Builders since 2004, with the bank investing $5.4 million into these local organizations.
The invitation-only program is highly competitive, and organizations are selected by a committee comprised of community leaders and past Neighborhood Builders honorees.
Since 2004, Bank of America has invested over $280 million in 50 communities through Neighborhood Builders, partnering with more than 1,400 nonprofits and helping more than 2,800 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership skills. Neighborhood Builders is just one example of how Bank of America deploys capital in communities, builds cross-sector partnerships, and promotes socioeconomic progress as part of its approach to responsible growth.
