- New donations throughout the Madison community supporting Black-owned
businesses and Black entrepreneurs, expansion of Black cultural
programs, and Boys & Girls Clubs skilled trades career
opportunities
- BMO's commitment to Madison
now exceeds over $1 million
MADISON,
Wis, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - BMO Financial
Group today announced a $650,000
investment in several Madison
community programs and organizations. These contributions will
support the Urban League of Greater
Madison's Black Business Hub, The Center for Black
Excellence & Culture, and Boys & Girls Clubs of
Dane County's McKenzie Workforce
Development Center.
"Investments like these are at the core of our Purpose, to
Boldly Grow the Good in business and life," said
Anthony Hudson, Regional President,
Retail Banking, Wisconsin, BMO
Financial Group. "We are pleased to work with these great
organizations to help make progress for the Madison community. Today's announcement, with
these tremendous partners, exemplifies our commitment for a
thriving economy, sustainable future, and inclusive society
throughout the communities we serve."
"We are proud to work with the Urban League, The Center for
Black Excellence & Culture, and the Boys & Girls Clubs to
support the delivery of these important community programs.
Alongside the economic growth and prosperity achieved by customers
we serve, this financial commitment is a direct investment in the
future of the Madison economy,"
said Jeff Ticknor, Senior Vice
President and Group Marketing Director, Commercial Banking,
Wisconsin, BMO Financial
Group.
BMO is investing $250,000 over
five years in the Urban League of Greater
Madison's Black Business Hub. The Hub will serve as an
entrepreneurial incubator for small businesses created by people of
color. It will serve as an economic anchor, drawing resources
to the area to create opportunities for business growth,
employment, and social development. The Hub will support 200
Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, create or relocate 150+
jobs, and train Black real estate developers.
"The Urban League of Greater
Madison is enormously proud of the partnership that we have
with BMO in creating greater access to opportunities in the banking
industry," said Ruben L. Anthony,
Jr., Ph.D., President and CEO, Urban League of Greater Madison. "As we are on a mission to
help build wealth for Brown and Black people in this community, BMO
is right there with us, supporting initiatives such as the
development of the Black Business Hub. This project and partnership
we will create wealth for multiple generations."
BMO is also committing $250,000
over five years to The Center for Black Excellence & Culture.
The Center will be a state-of-the art performing and visual arts
center, cultural center, business innovation and co-working space
all under one roof. The Center will ensure Dane County is a place where talented Black
people build their careers, raise their families, and contribute to
the local economy. It will offer unique, multi-generational,
interconnected programming to support the Black community and
engage the entire Madison
community.
"The Center for Black Excellence and Culture offers an exciting
and important opportunity to create a cultural home for the Black
community in Madison. This important investment in The Center
demonstrates BMO's support in making the Madison community a welcoming, culturally rich
home where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We are grateful
for BMO's leadership and commitment to The Center," said Dr.
Alex Gee, Founder, The Center for
Black Excellence and Culture.
In addition, BMO's contribution of $150,000 over three years will help support Boys
& Girls Clubs of Dane County's
McKenzie Workforce Development Center. The Development Center is
creating career pathways for individuals to gain certifications or
on-the-job training for skilled trades. The Center will educate,
and support interested youth to pursue careers as plumbers,
carpenters, HVAC technicians, electricians and more. BMO's
investment will allow young adults to access resources,
programming, and support systems that will generate
transformational change for families in South Central Wisconsin.
"Recently, we took on an initiative to build a skilled trades
center that will offer the youth in our community another pathway
to success and BMO was one of the first supporters to join our
cause. Their team members are helping us build out a $35 million youth work force center by providing
volunteers, funding, and guidance to help us achieve this historic
goal, which will ultimately improve the labor shortage and racial
disparities we see in our region," said Michael Johnson, CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of
Dane County.
BMO has committed more than $1
million to the Madison
community. These investments are integral to BMO EMpower, BMO's
five-year, $5 billion commitment to address barriers
faced by minority businesses, communities, and families.
About BMO Financial
Group
Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly
diversified financial services provider - the 8th largest
bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets
of $1.04 trillion as of April 30, 2022, and a team
of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range
of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and
investment banking products and services to more than 12 million
customers and conducts business through three operating groups:
Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO
Capital Markets.
Web: www.bmo.com
Twitter: @BMOmedia
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bmo-announces-new-650-000-investment-in-madison-wisconsin-301596607.html
SOURCE BMO Financial Group