Bank Of America Builds Neighborhoods In Hartford Via Two Big Grants

Courtesy of Bank of America

HARTFORD, CT – Bank of America has recently granted to Hartford-area nonprofits badly needed funding to continue making a difference in the lives of underserved populations in the area.

Programs and services that address basic needs and reduce barriers to workforce development will not only connect Greater Hartford residents with much-needed resources, but will help create meaningful employment and bolster the local economy, said Bank of America officials.

Recognized for their work in helping others chart a path toward economic opportunity, Community Partners in Action (CPA) and reSET have been named as the 2022 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders awardees and will receive a multi-year grant from Bank of America for their work in Greater Hartford.

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 in nonprofit leadership development.

“Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders program is unique in addressing local organizations’ short-term needs as well as long-term sustainability in order to create lasting change in communities,” said Joe Gianni, president, Bank of America of Greater Hartford. “Community Partners in Action and reSET are two organizations whose success will result in individuals discovering new pathways in life and being financially independent, and their efforts will resonate in our community far beyond the next two years.”

Community Partners in Action is a nonprofit organization that works with adults and youth in Greater Hartford and beyond, supporting the transition from life in the criminal justice system to life in the community and the workforce.

Their work includes re-entry services, alternatives to incarceration, a prison arts program and residential supervision of youth and adult offenders.

CPA believes that safe and affordable housing is a basic human right and the organization plans to utilize Neighborhood Builders funding to ensure that housing-insecure participants in their care have access to the shelter they need.

“Creating safe, equitable, and accessible shelter for those members of the Greater Hartford community returning home from prison is vital to our mission,” said Beth Hines, executive director, Community Partners in Action.

As a 2022 Bank of America Neighborhood Builder, we are thrilled to expand the housing referral services we offer as well as support our leadership team’s skill building and growth.”

reSET helps mission-driven entrepreneurs realize their vision and make positive impacts in their communities by supporting early-stage businesses with an emphasis on women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) and low-income entrepreneurs.

With the Neighborhood Builders grant, reSET plans to strengthen its programs through data analysis and identify growth areas as well as trends to help inform future program developments.

reSET was also recently selected as one of ten recipients of Governor Lamont’s program to support small business growth in Connecticut through the Department of Economic and Community Development, which will allow for expanded programming coming in 2023 and beyond.

Neighborhood Builders funding will help ensure that reSET can meet staffing needs, streamline operations, and strengthen internal leadership through professional development during this period of growth and opportunity.

“reSET believes in using business as a catalyst for positive change and, ultimately, long-term job creation in the Greater Hartford community,” said Sarah Bodley, executive director, reSET. “The entrepreneurs most likely to have great solutions to the challenges our neighbors face are, in fact, our neighbors and members of our community. As part of Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders program, we look forward to strengthening our ability to help our entrepreneurs and their businesses solve real-world issues through social enterprise.”

In Greater Hartford, Bank of America has selected 31 nonprofits as Neighborhood Builders to date, investing more than $6.2M in these local organizations.