Bank of America announced it has awarded a $3 million grant to the Obama Foundation to support its workforce development and community support initiatives, both of which are tied closely to the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center on Chicago’s South Side. Funding from Bank of America, to be delivered over three years, is already at work supporting the Foundation’s ambitious workforce development goals, which include eliminating barriers to entry and creating opportunities for diverse individuals and firms to participate in the construction of the iconic Obama Presidential Center. To support these objectives, the Foundation convened a group of industry-leading firms—the We Can Build It Consortium—to guide its efforts to recruit, engage, train, and retain talented individuals while proactively addressing the barriers that historically have prevented women and minorities from entering the building trades. With funding from BofA, the Consortium has surpassed many of the placement and community engagement goals it set forth at its launch two years ago, including ensuring that 50 percent of the Center’s construction workforce hours are performed by Chicago residents. The group actively trains women and minorities to apply for and get sponsored into construction trades positions such as plumbers, carpenters, and laborers. These career tracks have substantial growth and earning potential while also providing the means of creating multi-generational wealth. Ultimately, the candidates trained through this program will have the opportunity to work on building projects across Chicago, creating meaningful career opportunities for generations to come. For more information about Bank of America’s support for Chicago-area nonprofit organizations, please visit us at www.about.bankofamerica.com/en/local/chicago.