El Cajon, CA, June 19, 2018 – The East County Economic Development Council Foundation received a generous donation from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. The Bank of America grant will allow the East County Economic Development Council (EDC) Foundation to improve workforce readiness and education.
The Foundation was established in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation to address specific research, education, and economic development projects. Between 2000 and 2009 the Foundation raised $5000,000 to help fund discretionary shop classes, equipment, tooling, materials, scholarships, and student awards.
In recent years the East County EDC has identified a gap between the current labor force and the skill needs of local manufacturers through working with leaders from education, government, labor, and private industry. The East County EDC Foundation has created a program to address that labor gap, the culmination of which became their Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Portfolio. In its portfolio the East County EDC Foundation unites education and industry, creating a robust and reliable manufacturing workforce for the entire San Diego region.
Bank of America’s support will allow the East County EDC Foundation to continue to fund programs such as the Annual Manufacturing Expo and Resource Fair, the Careers in Manufacturing Tour and Panel series, and the Slingshot Co-Investment Structure to provide no risk loans to workers looking to upskill to better wages and improved job mobility. Each of these programs empower local job seekers to take the next step in pursuing their career.
“Bank of America has been a stellar, dedicated, and generous partner to the East County EDC Foundation providing not only the monetary contribution represented by this grant, but also the commitment of their professional staff expertise in business lending, regional investment, and community building,” said Jo Marie Diamond, CEO & President of the East County Economic Development Council Foundation.