TAMPA, Fla. – Bank of America today announced that St. Pete Free Clinic (SPFC) and the University Area Community Development Corporation (UACDC) have been named as 2022 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® awardees for their work in the community to remove economic barriers and advance economic opportunity. With multi-year grant funding, the organizations’ programs and services that address local access to healthcare, nutritious food, recovery housing, and education will continue to expand, helping more neighbors in need.
SPFC and UACDC will each receive a $200,000 grant over two years, as well as comprehensive leadership training for the executive director and an emerging leader, on topics ranging from increasing financial sustainability, human capital management, and strategic storytelling. They will also join a network of peer organizations across the U.S. and access capital to expand their impact. The program continues to be the nation’s largest investment into nonprofit leadership development.
“Nonprofits are the backbone to our Tampa Bay community as they work closely with individuals, families and community members to understand the obstacles many are experiencing and develop programs and services that will help alleviate or eliminate these barriers,” said Bill Goede, president, Bank of America Tampa Bay. “It’s important that we direct not only capital, but the necessary resources and training to help position these nonprofits and their leadership team for long-term success as they grow strategically and make a positive impact.”
SPFC’s programs support health equity by increasing access to nutritious food, healthcare, and housing for those in need. They also provide services to help lower monthly out-of-pocket expenditures, contribute to savings, and establish long-term economic stability for Pinellas County’s low-income population. SPFC will use the funding to expand their food bank, including renovations, increased operations and staffing, and the expansion of health center operations in midtown St. Petersburg.
“Funding from Bank of America through the Neighborhood Builders program will have a long-term and far-reaching impact on St. Pete Free Clinic, as it will allow us to meet growing demand for our services and bolster leadership capacity,” said Jennifer Yeagley, CEO, St. Pete Free Clinic. “This investment in our mission will help ensure that we thoughtfully increase services in areas of greatest need and in a way that we can sustain over the long run. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and the opportunity to work together to strengthen our community.”
University Area CDC primarily focuses on the redevelopment and sustainability of the at-risk areas surrounding the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus. For over 20 years, University Area CDC has championed positive change in the economic, educational, and social levels of the community through youth programs, adult education, affordable housing, workforce and resource assistance, and community engagement. University Area CDC will use the funding to support ten initiatives within its Neighborhood Transformation Strategy plan, which are the driving force of their programs, services, and outreach.
“We are incredibly grateful for partners like Bank of America who believe in the mission of our organization and are committed to making a collaborative impact in the University Area,” said Sarah Combs, executive director & CEO, University Area CDC. “This funding will allow us to continue implementing our Neighborhood Transformation Strategy, creating mixed use housing, neighborhood development and job opportunities that focus on providing a better quality of life to our residents and fuel economic and social progress in our community.”
In Tampa Bay, 47 nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood Builders, with the bank investing $9,400,000 into these local organizations since 2004. The invitation-only program is highly competitive, and organizations are selected by a committee comprised of community leaders and past Neighborhood Builders honorees.
Through 2021, 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 the bank deploys capital in communities, builds cross-sector partnerships, and promotes socioeconomic progress as part of its approach to responsible growth.
For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, register for email news alerts.