Bank of America has committed to financially invest in local organizations, including CommunityWorks, with the mission of advancing racial equity and economic opportunity in the Upstate. The $100k CommunityWorks received from Bank of America will go toward the mission of financial equity by furthering CommunityWorks’ small business efforts including empowering women entrepreneurs through the Women’s Business Center.
On September 3rd, The U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator, Jovita Carranza, along with state and local representatives visited the CommunityWorks office for a grand opening of the CommunityWorks Women’s Business Center. This exciting celebration included addresses from Administrator Carranza, South Carolina’s Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, and Greenville’s Mayor Pro Tem Lillian Flemming. Several CommunityWorks woman-owned, small business clients had the opportunity to participate in a roundtable to discuss their experience as small business owners with Administrator Carranza before the ribbon-cutting.
”Bank of America has been a long-time partner of CommunityWorks,” said Tammie Hoy Hawkins, CEO of CommunityWorks. “This contribution signifies their ongoing support to promote equitable access to capital and financial stability for underserved and underrepresented small businesses.”
“Bank of America has a clear purpose to help make financial lives better. Investing in programs like the CommunityWorks Women’s Business Center improves access to jobs and support for women-owned small businesses by creating more pathways to employment and support for entrepreneurs in the Upstate,” said Stacy Brandon, Upstate Market President for Bank of America.
CommunityWorks continues to support small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19 through ongoing financial relief efforts. The lending team helped nearly 200 small businesses by closing over $2.6 million in Paycheck Protection Program Loans. Additionally, CommunityWorks has developed several in-house products to aid entrepreneurs and small business owners as they seek growth.
