Nashville, Tenn. (TN Tribune)–Bank of America announced more than $325,000 in grant funding to 13 Nashville nonprofits. Grants focus on workforce development and education to help individuals chart a path to employment and better economic futures, as well as basic needs fundamental to building lifelong stability.
With access to immediate and basic needs, such as food, shelter, health resources and housing, individuals and families can be better positioned to build and maintain a path toward stability and economic opportunity.
Recognizing this impact, the bank has directed funding to organizations providing critical services and resources that are fostering a diverse workforce and supporting individuals and families to succeed.
Also, employment is a key driver of economic mobility in Nashville. That’s why Bank of America said it is focused on building pathways to employment by supporting a range of workforce development and educational opportunities that help vulnerable individuals and families stabilize and advance.
“Investing in partnerships with nonprofit organizations addressing issues like affordable housing and employment is part of our approach to driving economic opportunity and social progress in Nashville,” said Tyson Moore, president, Bank of America Nashville. “This recent philanthropic investment in Nashville nonprofits is just one way Bank of America deploys capital locally to help remove barriers to economic success and build a more sustainable community.”
Two newer grant recipients are Community Care Fellowship and Dream Streets. Community Care Fellowship plans to use the funds to support their Rapid Rehousing Program that aims to provide long-term housing for 60-75 unhoused and socially displaced people. The funds will also support their Mobile Housing Navigation
Center, which is a collective impact initiative with nonprofit partners, Metropolitan government, and partner congregations to provide temporary housing for neighbors experiencing homelessness throughout the Nashville area, including those in encampments.
Dream Streets will focus its $25,000 grant funding to support its North Nashville Job Readiness and Training Program. The program is geared towards formerly incarcerated Black males in North Nashville, providing hard and soft skills, vocational training, and professional mentoring to overcome barriers to employment and find long-term, meaningful careers with a focus on job placement in the hospitality and foodservice industry.
Other organizations receiving grants include:
• 4:13 Strong
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee
• The Hope Station
• Junior Achievement
• The Nashville Food Project
• Oasis Center
• Project Return
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
• Tennessee Immigrants and Refugee Rights Coalition
• YMCA of Middle TN
• YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee
These grants built on the $7.8 million Bank of America has provided to organizations in Nashville since 2017.