Bank of America has announced $329,150 in grants across 25 nonprofits working to increase educational and workforce development opportunities in the Portland, Oregon community. These grants are part of the bank’s broader philanthropic commitment to helping individuals and families improve their economic stability.

The nonprofits receiving support focus on connecting youth and adults, including the unemployed and underserved, to workforce opportunities, education and skills-building. Funding will help individuals living in low-income neighborhoods, who are disproportionately impacted by unemployment and other barriers to workforce participation as well as access to opportunities that will advance long-term sustainable growth in Portland.

“Investing in our workforce is one of the ways we are addressing issues fundamentally connected to economic mobility,” said Roger Hinshaw, Bank of America President for Oregon and SW Washington. “We’re proud to partner with nonprofit organizations like the Greater Portland Economic Institute, All Hands Raised and the Clark Community College Foundation from across the Portland metro area that are helping to build a more sustainable community.”

Portland State University is one of the nonprofits receiving a grant which will use the funding for their President’s Equal Access Program in order to support a commitment to valuing students through accessibility to higher education.                                 

“With support from Bank of America, and through the President’s Equal Access Program we will be able to remove barriers for students to obtain a college degree at PSU,” said Wim Wiewel, Portland State University president. “We look forward to broadening our impact in the Portland community.”

Other organizations receiving grants include:

• Albertina Kerr
• CASH Oregon
• Dress for Success
• Financial Beginnings
• Friends of the Children-Portland
• Girls, Inc.
• Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce 
• I Have A Dream
• Junior Achievement
• Literary Arts
• New Avenues for Youth
• The Portland Business Alliance Charitable Institute
• Portland Community College
• The Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center
• The Portland Workforce Alliance
• The Regional Arts & Culture Council
• Schoolhouse Supplies
• SE Works
• Volunteers of America

For more information, visit Bank of America's website.