Lincoln Financial Foundation Awards More than $1.4 Million in Grants to Fort Wayne, Ind. Nonprofits
Fort Wayne, Ind., December 23, 2013 /3BL Media/ – Lincoln Financial Foundation is helping Fort Wayne nonprofits provide workforce education, build adult literacy and stimulate economic development. Lincoln Foundation recently awarded $1,421,500 in economic and workforce development grants to 10 Fort Wayne nonprofits, a portion of $2.5 million in charitable funds that the foundation has allocated for the area in 2013.
Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance will receive $600,000 over four years to support the initiatives of Greater Fort Wayne, Inc., including marketing downtown, the Business Retention/Expansion program and supporting talent development initiatives. Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) is the newly-created economic development organization that unifies the Alliance and Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce to serve as a single point of contact for economic growth in Fort Wayne and to complement and support broader regional efforts. Marketing downtown and its capital investments and downtown development are essential components to attracting young talent to the area and creating high-wage, primary jobs in the workforce. This will include phase II of both the GFW and Downtown Improvement District websites, as well as development of videos and other collateral marketing materials. Through the Business Retention/ Expansion program, businesses are informed about the incentives available to them for expansion needs, and an analysis on the health of each business is created to gauge their individual needs. This analysis allows GFW to take action to improve the business environment and help businesses thrive in the community. Support of the Graduate Retention Program and Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana helps to retain the best and brightest high school and college graduates as well as young professionals in northeast Indiana.
Other economic and workforce development grants awarded include:
- $600,000 over four years to Northeast Indiana Foundation to support the Big Goal Collaborative, Vision 2020 and Business Cluster Development strategies that will strengthen and diversify the economy in northeast Indiana.
- $46,000 to Northeast Indiana Innovation Center to support the student entrepreneurship program for high school and college students.
- $43,000 to Ivy Tech Foundation for the Employer Student Connection Initiative, an education and job placement program that connects students with businesses that have job openings in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Construction Technology, Industrial Technology, Design Technology, Health Care Support, Business Administration and Office Administration positions.
- $35,000 to East Wayne Street Center to support Project Solve, an adult basic education and vocational training program that targets high school dropouts and adults who need to improve their reading, writing and math skills and pass the GED tests.
- $35,000 to The Literacy Alliance for its four GED Learning Centers, which provide support services to adult students preparing to take their GED tests.
- $20,000 to Fort Wayne Clubhouse d/b/a The Carriage House to help those with serious mental illness return to competitive employment.
- $17,500 to Fort Wayne Urban League for the Empowerment Center, which provides services related to employment, financial literacy and housing stability that help people become economically stable and financially self-sufficient.
- $15,000 to Blue Jacket to support Opportunity Staffing, an in-house staffing service that benefits both the organization’s candidates who graduate from the Career Academy training as well as the employers that hire those graduates.
- $10,000 to Consumer Credit Counseling Service to support a financial literacy program that addresses financial responsibility and helps individuals develop a balanced budget reflecting their value.
About Lincoln Financial Foundation
The Lincoln Financial Foundation, established in 1962, is a nonprofit organization formed and supported by Lincoln Financial Group. Under Lincoln Foundation guidelines, grants are made in the areas of arts, education, human services and economic/workforce development. The Lincoln Foundation awarded more than $2.5 million to support nonprofits in the greater Fort Wayne area in 2012. Since 2006, the Lincoln Foundation has contributed more than $24.4 million to Fort Wayne nonprofits.
About Lincoln Financial Group:
Lincoln Financial Group has set aside almost $10 million of its pre-tax earnings for charitable causes that support philanthropic endeavors in the communities where its employees work. Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. With headquarters in the Philadelphia region, the companies of Lincoln Financial Group had assets under management of $197 billion as of September 30, 2013. Through its affiliated companies, Lincoln Financial Group offers: annuities; life, group life, disability and dental insurance; employer-sponsored retirement plans; savings plans; and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services. For more information, including a copy of our most recent SEC reports containing our balance sheets, please visit www.LincolnFinancial.com.
Byron Champlin
Lincoln Financial Foundation
(603) 226-5554
