CENTRAL COAST — Bank of America has named Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) as its 2025 Neighborhood Builder for its work to improve the economic health and quality of life in the tri-county region of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.
Bank of America’s signature Neighborhood Builders program continues to be one of the nation’s largest philanthropic investments into nonprofit leadership development, while providing unique multiyear flexible grant funding to high-impact nonprofits in communities nationwide.
As a Neighborhood Builder, MBEP is awarded a $50,000 grant over two years, leadership training for the chief executive officer and an emerging leader, and the opportunity to connect with nonprofits in a peer network.
“Nonprofits, such as MBEP, excel at building cross-sector coalitions and place-based strategies that address complex regional challenges,” said Jennifer Dacquisto, president, Bank of America Monterey Bay. “By providing flexible funding and leadership training, the Neighborhood Builders program can help MBEP scale its impact in the region.”
MBEP serves as a regional catalyst, convening leaders from government, business, education and community sectors to address the most pressing challenges facing the region, from housing and digital access to economic development and workforce training.
The nonprofit will use the Neighborhood Builders grant to help scale high-impact initiatives like the Pajaro Alliance and the Monterey Bay Housing Trust.
“Monterey Bay Economic Partnership continues to make significant strides in creating a more vibrant and resilient economy and advancing workforce opportunities,” said MBEP President and CEO Tahra Goraya. “Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders funding is an investment that supports expansion of MBEP’s role as a catalyst for positive change in our region.”
Since 2019, Bank of America has selected seven local nonprofits across Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties for its Neighborhood Builders program, as part of the bank’s longstanding efforts to build thriving communities through economic opportunity. These include Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County, Digital NEST, First Tee Monterey County, Rancho Cielo, Housing Matters Santa Cruz and Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley.
Overall, Bank of America has awarded $3 million in grants to local nonprofits since 2020 in the region, and its employees have volunteered more than 20,000 hours to local causes.
