The Riverside Center for Innovation is one of ten nonprofit organizations in Greater Pittsburgh that received a portion of the $112,000 contribution as part of the Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money financial literacy initiative.
Thanking the participants of the RCI BizFit program for their involvement, Juan Garrett announced that Citizens Bank provided RCI a $7,500 grant that will be used to assist with financial literacy classes. Garrett said the money will be utilized along with another sponsor to provide bonding education. “The bonding piece is needed to help your businesses grow down the road,” said Garrett, RCI’s executive director. He added that Citizens will be kicking off the classes around mid-May. He said that currently they’ve been involved with workshops dealing with access to capital.
Beth Crow, vice president and senior market manager at Citizens Bank, while congratulating the BizFit Tier 3 graduates, explained that the Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money Initiative is part of its ongoing commitment to give consumers the confidence and tools they need to be fiscally healthy. She said nonprofit organizations from across the bank’s 11-state footprint were chosen in a competitive application process based on their track record of success providing financial education programs, clear and measurable goals for the program, and the ability to incorporate sustainability in their program plans.
The RCI application indicated they would utilize their funding for the construction entrepreneurial training classes, which prepare their clients with the tools needed to secure bonding insurance for their firms and to bid on construction opportunities projected at $8 billion in the Pittsburgh region over the next 10 years.
“We have a great working relationship with the Riverside Center. I’d often run into Juan who I have known for a great number of years and Judy and we’d say we have to do something together, and finally we get to do something together,” said Scott Brown, Citizens’ vice-president of community development and marketing management. “It is a pleasure to collaborate especially when it comes to financial literacy.”
Judy McNeil is the RCI Diversity Business Resource Center program coordinator.
Six people graduated from the RCI BizFit Program Tier 3 class, which is for startup businesses. They are: Quentin Jones, Q & T Cleaning LLC; Kristi Miller, Miller Design & Consulting; Brenda Murphy, BGE Consulting & Associates; Lamar Reeves, F.A.I.T.H Construction Company; And Nicole Robinson and Tim Zigler of Gramile Construction Services.
Eileen Hall, owner of Hall’s Professional Drywall Inc., said the BizFit Program was very helpful to her. A Tier 2 graduate, she said her purpose for participating in the program was to learn the paperwork and administrative side of the business. “The class opened my eyes to the many opportunities out there. I learned a lot,” she said.
Already MBE/WBE and Section 3 certified, she said her next goal is to become Section 8 certified which will enable her to do business with the federal government. “I am looking forward to participating in the bonding classes because the information will be valuable.”
Held in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence, the BizFit Program assists minority, woman, and veteran entrepreneurs in the construction industry. The program combines strategy, connections, and expertise to enable disadvantaged construction entrepreneurs to grow sustainable enterprises focusing on their top capabilities. Participants receive counseling and mentorship to create a five-year growth plan geared to propel companies to future success.
Since 1992 RCI has been creating entrepreneurial change within the region by helping entrepreneurs and small business owners start and grow their businesses. It provides low-cost leasing and a wide variety of services consisting of consulting, office support, technology training programs, aid in commercial real estate transactions, and business plan preparation.
The Business Resource Center is just one product of RCI. It is described as a single point of contact for minorities, women, veterans and other disadvantaged business owners seeking information to start, sustain and grow their business. Its services assist pre-venture, startup and existing businesses acquire the tools they need to break down the barriers that may impede their growth.
The Diversity Business Resource Center has strong working relationships with organizations like the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center, the SBA Women’s Business Center, the Allegheny County MWDBE Department, the PA Bureau of Minority and Women Business Opportunities, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Pittsburgh District Office, the Senior Core of Retired Executives Pittsburgh Chapter and area financial institutions like Citizens.
Other area groups receiving contributions as part of the Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money financial literacy initiative include; ACTION-Housing, East Liberty Development, Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center, the Hosanna House, Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania, the Mon Valley Initiative, Neighborhood Housing Services, Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group and the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh.
Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money is part of the bank’s broader Citizens Helping Citizens program, which addresses four key areas; hunger, economic development, financial education and volunteerism.
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