Over the past decade, Charlotte, North Carolina, has experienced an influx of new business development, declining unemployment and rising consumer and small business confidence,footnote1 and the long-term outlook for the city and surrounding areas is bright. And yet, the benefits of a thriving economy are not distributed equally. A study by Harvard researchers ranked Charlotte 97 among the 100 largest U.S. cities for economic mobility and found that children growing up in low-income households there have little chance at escaping poverty.footnote2
To combat this, the nonprofit Road to Hire has been working since 2013 to provide pathways for professional development and career advancement for Charlotte’s young adults. At six area high schools that serve mostly low-income students, seniors can enroll in a yearlong Road to Hire course that offers a tangible payoff. Top students earn four-year college scholarships or are placed in six- or 12-month, paid apprenticeships in cybersecurity, business analytics, coding or nursing, where they build a range of technical and professional skills to prepare for permanent jobs in high-earning, stable fields.
Bank of America provides ongoing support for Road to Hire and helps fund wages for the apprentices. The bank is also one of several Charlotte-area hiring partners employing graduates of Road to Hire programs. In 2022, 766 students participated in the high school course, with 212 seniors earning scholarships through the R2H College program. To date, Road to Hire has launched more than 300 young people into tech careers through its apprenticeships.
The support for Road to Hire is an example of Bank of America’s commitment to help advance equality and economic opportunity in local neighborhoods around the country. From entrepreneur funding and expanding home ownership to professional skills training and healthcare access, Bank of America continues to partner with innovative leaders to help communities implement solutions to society’s biggest challenges.
