Vision 2045 Award, Women’s Work Conference, $24 Hourly Wage This Week in Business News

City Plan – Vision 2045 wins 3 awards at state and national level

Amarillo’s vision for the future has delivered a rare trifecta – winning the triple crown, according to a city press release. The city’s Vision 2045 plan is a comprehensive plan that identifies the Amarillo community’s goals for the future. The plan is a tool that allows the city to anticipate and effectively guide future changes in line with the community’s desires.

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

• 2024 Savvy Award from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) for community engagement plans.

• 2024 American Planning Association – Texas Chapter Comprehensive Planning Award (previously announced).

• 2024 Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers (TAMIO) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Campaign/Activity Award. (Previously announced.)

“These awards are a significant accomplishment for the Amarillo community,” said Emily Koller, Director of Planning for the City of Amarillo. “This was a collaborative effort by the Office of Engagement and Innovation, which worked together to support the Planning Department in launching a robust communications strategy that generated unprecedented levels of community engagement. The response from the Amarillo community is a reason for this success.”

The City Council adopted City Plan – Vision 2045 in June. For information about City Plan – Vision 2045, go to: www.amarillo.gov/our-city/cityplan

For more information, contact Dave Henry, Media Relations Manager for the City of Amarillo, at (806) 378-5219 or by email at [email protected].

Style for Success: Empowering Women in the Workplace, September 24

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 conference for women on the workplace at the Amarillo Civic Center, Heritage and Regency Rooms on Tuesday, September 24. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the event runs from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

With support from 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 at a job interview)

• Building a CV

• Career Exploration

• Preparing for the Career Fair (This conference is held two weeks prior to the Workforce Solutions fall job fair, and every woman who attends the conference will have a head start on the job fair.)

• Interview Tips and Interview Practice

• Interview Clothing and Accessories (Each woman attending the conference will have the opportunity to choose a complete interview outfit, including clothing, shoes, handbag and jewelry, free of charge.)

They will also have resources to help women overcome barriers to employment, including criminal records, homelessness, disability, discrimination, child care, education and more. Free lunch will be served.

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

The deadline for applications is September 19.

For more information, contact Kim Lester at 806-358-7803 or [email protected].

BofA raises US minimum wage to $24 per hour, starting salary to nearly $50K

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

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

The move builds on the bank’s history as a national leader in setting a minimum wage for hourly U.S. workers. Over the past seven years, Bank of America has raised its minimum hourly wage from $15 to $24 in 2024. With the increase to $24, the starting salary for the bank’s full-time U.S. employees will increase by nearly $20,000 since 2017. “Ensuring a competitive minimum wage is fundamental to being a great place to work — and I’m proud that Bank of America is leading by example,” said Sheri Bronstein, chief human resources officer.

Additional benefits include 16 weeks of paid parental leave, an industry-leading sabbatical program, and personalized support for employees going through critical life events through the Life Event Services team.

Bank of America’s leadership as a global employer has been recognized by numerous external organizations, including JUST Capital as a Top Company for Workers, LinkedIn’s “Top Companies in the US,” Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” for the sixth consecutive year, and People Magazine’s “100 Companies That Care.” This recognition reflects Bank of America’s continued focus on providing a Great Place to Work for all team members.

TWC awards $83 million in grants to expand adult education and literacy programs, including AC

AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded $83,030,502 to 40 grantees across the state to support 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 press release said. The AEL grant recipient for the 2024-2025 program year is the Amarillo Junior College District, which will receive $1,191,224.

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

The latest funding from TWC will support efforts to expand and strengthen AEL efforts 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 their English language proficiency, earn high school equivalency, earn industry-recognized credentials, and achieve digital literacy.

The Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers, and communities achieve economic prosperity. For more information about TWC and its services in partnership with your local network of workforce development boards, call 800-628-5115 or visit https://twc.texas.gov/. Sign up for 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 occupational injury insurance, paid $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 committed to keeping Texans working safely,” said Honorable Ron Simmons, chairman of the Texas Mutual board. “This year’s $350 million dividend distribution is having a significant and positive impact on the Texas economy.”

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

“Potter County is grateful to Texas Mutual for their generosity and continued support through their dividend program,” said Kim Dryden, risk advisor and partner at NCW Risk Management. “These dividends provide our local businesses with the tools they need to promote a safe workforce.”

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

This article originally appeared in the Amarillo Globe-News: Business news and events in the Amarillo region as of September 15, 2024.