Home Economy Economic Activity United Way awards $1.5M in equity fund grants

United Way awards $1.5M in equity fund grants

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PBN Staff

-

08/14/2024

UWRI-RGB-Vertical — FIFTEEN ORGANIZATIONS have been awarded a total of $1.5 million in grants from Providence Equity Fund at United Way of R.I., the nonprofit organization and the city announced Wednesday.

PROVIDENCE – Fifteen organizations will share $1.5 million in grants from the Providence Equity Fund at the United Way of Rhode Island, the nonprofit and city announced Wednesday. The grants will support strategies that promote racial and social equity, economic mobility, and educational opportunities for underserved populations across the city. The funding is intended to

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PROVIDENCE – Fifteen organizations will share $1.5 million in grants from the Providence Equity Fund at the United Way of Rhode Island, the nonprofit and city announced Wednesday. The grants will support strategies that promote racial and social equity, economic mobility, and educational opportunities for underserved populations across the city. The funding is intended to address the needs of Providence residents in the demographic groups of Indigenous and tribal peoples, African heritage, qualified census tracts and neighborhoods and residents facing poverty. “This is a pivotal, milestone moment for our state to address the systemic racial inequities and injustices that have perpetuated for generations, and which continue to hold back our [minority] communities,” said Cortney Nicolato, United Way’s president and CEO. “Everything about this fund and these grants aligns with the goals of our LIVE UNITED 2025 strategic plan and our commitment to advancing equity and inclusion in Rhode Island.” The funding is a combination of money from the American Rescue Plan Act and United Way donor support and follows recommendations from the Providence Municipal Reparations Commission. Use of ARPA funds for the equity fund was voted on and approved by the Providence City Council. “The targeted investments from the Providence Equity Fund will have a tangible impact on the lives of Providence’s residents, who we know have been historically marginalized,” said Mayor Brett P. Smiley. Priority was placed on organizations whose programs focused on closing the racial wealth gap, addressing the negative impacts of urban renewal due to displacement and gentrification and enhancing access to culturally competent resources in education and out-of-school time learning for K-12 minority youth. Nonprofits working in these issue areas have been awarded unrestricted general operating grants of up to $50,000 per year for two years. Those receiving funding include:

Building Futures
Center for Indigenous Peoples Rights
Center for Women & Enterprise
College Unbound
DARE
Justice Assistance
Manton Avenue Project
Mini Entrepreneurs of Rhode Island
Olneyville Neighborhood Association
Providence Promise
Providence Revolving Fund
Rhode Island Black Business Association
Rhode Island Black Heritage Society
Sojourner House
Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council.