Friday, November 22, 2024

Vision 2045 award, women’s job conference, $24 hourly wage in this week’s business news

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City Plan – Vision 2045 wins 3 awards at state, national levels

Amarillo’s vision for the future has pulled off a rare trifecta – winning a Triple Crown, according to a city news release. City Plan – Vision 2045 is a comprehensive plan identifying the Amarillo community’s goals for the future. The plan is a tool allowing the city to anticipate and guide future changes effectively with the community’s desires.

City Plan – Vision 2045 has won three awards – at the state and national levels:

  • The 2024 3CMA (City-County Communications & Marketing Association) Savvy Award for Community Engagement Plans.
  • The 2024 American Planning Association – Texas Chapter Comprehensive Planning Award. (Previously announced).
  • The 2024 TAMIO (Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers) TAMI Award for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Outreach/Campaign. (Previously announced).

“All of these awards represent a significant achievement for the Amarillo community,” said City of Amarillo Director of Planning Emily Koller. “This was a collaborative effort between the Office of Engagement & Innovation partnering to support the Planning Department in launching a robust communication strategy that garnered unprecedented engagement from residents. The response from the Amarillo community is the reason for the success.”

City council adopted City Plan – Vision 2045 in June. For information on City Plan – Vision 2045 go to: www.amarillo.gov/our-city/cityplan

Also for more information, contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov .

Styled for Success: Empowering Women for the Workplace to be held Sept. 24

The Lucille and Leo Caiafa, Jr. Center for Advancement, an outreach program of Sharing Hope Ministry, and the City of Amarillo Community Development are hosting Styled for Success: Empowering Women for the Workplace, a free women’s job conference at the Amarillo Civic Center, Heritage and Regency rooms on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Check-in is 8:30 a.m., with the event running from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

With the assistance of Amarillo College, Education Credit Union, Goodwill Industries Career Resource Center and Workforce Solutions of the Panhandle, they will offer the following sessions:

  • Interpersonal Communication (presenting yourself well in an interview)
  • Resume Building
  • Career Exploration
  • Job Fair Preparation (This conference is two weeks ahead of the Workforce Solutions Fall Job Fair, and every woman who attends the conference will have an advantage going into the job fair.)
  • Interview Tips and Practice Interviews
  • Interview Clothing and Accessories (Every woman who attends the conference will have the opportunity to choose a complete interview outfit including clothing, shoes, handbag and jewelry at no charge.)

They will also have resources available to assist women in overcoming barriers to employment, including felony record, homelessness, disabilities, discrimination, child care, education, and more. A complementary lunch will be served.

This conference is free of charge to any women in the community, but space is limited and advance registration required. Women can register online or they can call 806-358-7803 for registration information.

Deadline to register is Sept. 19.

For more information, contact Kim Lester at 806-358-7803 or email cfa@sharinghopeministry.org .

BofA raises U.S. minimum hourly wage to $24, starting salary to nearly $50K

CHARLOTTE – Tuesday, Sept. 10, Bank of America announced that it has raised its U.S. minimum hourly wage to $24 per hour, the latest step in the company’s commitment to $25 by 2025. With the increase, the minimum annualized salary for full-time employees in the U.S. will rise to nearly $50,000, according to a news release.

The increase applies to all BofA full-time and part-time hourly positions in the U.S. The increase goes into effect in October.

This move builds on the bank’s history of being a national leader in establishing a minimum rate of pay for U.S. hourly employees. In the last seven years, Bank of America raised the minimum hourly wage from $15 to $24 in 2024. With the increase to $24, starting salary for full-time U.S. employees at the bank will have gone up by nearly $20,000 since 2017. “Providing a competitive minimum wage is core to being a great place to work — and I am proud that Bank of America is leading by example,” said Sheri Bronstein, chief human resources officer.

Additional benefits include, but are not limited to 16 weeks of paid parental leave; an industry-leading sabbatical program; and personalized support for employees navigating critical life events through its Life Event Services Team.

Bank of America’s leadership as a global employer has been recognized by many external organizations, including JUST Capital as a Top Company for Workers, LinkedIn’s “Top Companies in the U.S.”, Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for the sixth consecutive year, and People Magazine’s “100 Companies That Care.” This recognition is a reflection of Bank of America’s continuous focus on providing a Great Place to Work for all teammates.

TWC awards $83M in grants for expansion of Adult Education and Literacy Programs, including AC

AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded $83,030,502 to 40 grantees across the state in support of adult education and literacy, including nearly $1.2 million to Amarillo College.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, these grants will continue educational opportunities for 70,000 adult learners served by TWC’s Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) programs, a news release said. Recipients of AEL grant funding for the 2024-2025 program year include Amarillo Junior College District, which will receive $1,191,224.

“Each year more than 70,000 Texans enroll in adult education programs to help increase their earning potential in the Texas workforce,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “These AEL programs are helping adult learners gain the skills they need for success.”

The recent grant funding from TWC will support efforts to develop and enhance AEL activities across the state, including High School Equivalency Preparation and Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education. Additional resources for AEL programs will help even more adult learners across Texas improve English proficiency, earn high school equivalency, gain industry-recognized credentials, and achieve digital literacy.

Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers, and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and its services in coordination with its local workforce development boards network, call 800-628-5115 or visit https://twc.texas.gov/. Subscribe to email updates to receive notifications about TWC programs and services.

Potter County businesses receive $2.7 million in dividends from Texas Mutual

AUSTIN — Texas Mutual Insurance Company, a policyholder-owned company and the state’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance, has distributed $350 million in dividends to about 70,000 Texas businesses, representing 91% of the company’s policyholders, according to a news release.

In Potter County, 461 businesses will collectively receive $2.7 million in dividends. These local businesses can use their individual dividends to reinvest in their businesses and local communities, the company said.

“Texas Mutual’s dividend program gives us the opportunity to share the company’s financial success with businesses across the state that are doing their part to keep Texans working safely,” said the Honorable Ron Simmons, chairman of Texas Mutual’s board. “This year’s $350 million dividend distribution creates a meaningful and positive effect on Texas’ economy.”

Policyholders have the opportunity to earn dividends for their commitment to safety and loyalty to Texas Mutual.

“Potter County is grateful for Texas Mutual’s generosity and continued support through its dividend program,” said Kim Dryden, risk advisor and partner at NCW Risk Management. “Through these dividends, our local businesses are given the tools needed for the promotion of workforce safety.”

Texas Mutual awarded its first dividend in 1999, making this the 26th consecutive year of the program and bringing the total delivered back to Texas businesses to over $4.4 billion. Visit texasmutual.com/ownershippays to learn more about Texas Mutual’s dividend program.

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