Urban Planning – Vision 2045 wins three awards at state and national level
According to a city news release, Amarillo’s vision for the future has achieved a rare triple crown feat: City Plan – Vision 2045 is a comprehensive plan that identifies future goals for the Amarillo community. The plan is a tool for the city to effectively anticipate and guide future change in alignment with the community’s desires.
The Urban Plan – Vision 2045 won three awards at state and national levels.
2024 3CMA (City-County Communications & Marketing Association) Savvy Award for Community Engagement Plan. 2024 American Planning Association – Texas Chapter Comprehensive Planning Award. (Previously announced). 2024 TAMIO (Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers) TAMIO Award for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Outreach/Campaign. (Previously announced).
“All of these awards are a tremendous accomplishment for the Amarillo community,” said Emily Koller, Planning Director for the City of Amarillo. “This was a collaborative effort with the Office of Engagement and Innovation, who supported the Planning Department and launched a robust communications strategy that garnered unprecedented interest from residents. The response from the Amarillo community is what makes it a success.”
The City Council adopted City Planning Vision 2045 in June. For more information on City Planning Vision 2045, visit www.amarillo.gov/our-city/cityplan.
For more information, please contact Dave Henry, Media Relations Manager for the City of Amarillo, at (806) 378-5219 or email David.Henry@amarillo.gov.
Styled for Success: Empowering Women in the Workplace Event to be held on September 24th
The Lucille and Leo Caiafa Jr. Center for Advancement, an outreach program of Sharing Hope Ministries, and City of Amarillo Community Development, will host a free women’s employment conference, “Styled for Success: Empowering Women in the Workplace,” in the Heritage and Regency Rooms of the Amarillo Civic Center on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Check-in is at 8:30 a.m. and the event will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The following sessions are offered in partnership with Amarillo College, Education Credit Union, Goodwill Industries Career Resource Center and Workforce Solutions of the Panhandle.
Topics covered include interpersonal communication (how to present yourself well in an interview), resume writing, career exploration, job fair preparation (the conference takes place two weeks before the Workforce Solutions Fall Job Fair, giving all women who attend the conference an advantage at the job fair), interview tips and interview practice, and interview attire and accessories (all women who attend the conference can choose a complete interview outfit, including clothing, shoes, handbag and jewelry, at no cost to them).
There will also be resources available to help women overcome barriers to employment, such as felony records, homelessness, disabilities, discrimination, child care and education. Free lunches will also be provided.
The conference is free and open to all area women, but advance registration is required due to limited space. Women can register online or call 806-358-7803 for registration information.
The registration deadline is September 19th.
For more information, contact Kim Lester at 806-358-7803 or email cfa@sharinghopeministry.org.
BofA raises US minimum wage to $24 an hour, bringing starting wages to nearly $50,000
CHARLOTTE – Bank of America on Tuesday, Sept. 10, announced it is raising the U.S. minimum hourly wage to $24, the latest step in the bank’s pledge to get it to $25 by 2025. The increase will bring the minimum annual salary for full-time U.S. employees to nearly $50,000, according to a news release.
The pay increase applies to all full-time and part-time hourly positions at BofA in the U.S. The increase goes into effect in October.
The move builds on the bank’s history of being a national leader in setting minimum wages for hourly employees in the U.S. Over the past seven years, Bank of America has raised its hourly minimum wage from $15 to $24 in 2024. The increase to $24 will increase the starting salary of the bank’s full-time U.S. employees by nearly $20,000 since 2017. “Offering a competitive minimum wage is at the core of being a great place to work, and we’re proud Bank of America is leading by example,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Sheri Bronstein.
Other benefits include, but are not limited to, 16 weeks of paid parental leave, an industry-leading sabbatical program, and personalized support for employees navigating significant life events through our Life Event Services team.
Bank of America’s leadership as a global employer has been recognized by many external organizations, including JUST Capital’s “Best Places to Work,” LinkedIn’s “Top Companies in America,” Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for the sixth consecutive year, and People Magazine’s “100 Companies that Care.” This recognition reflects Bank of America’s ongoing 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 grant recipients 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 provide continuity of educational opportunities for 70,000 adult learners served by TWC’s Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) programs, according to a news release. Recipients of AEL grants for the 2024-2025 school year include 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 incomes in the Texas workforce,” said TWC Chairman Brian Daniel. “These AEL programs help adult learners gain the skills they need to succeed.”
The recent grant from TWC will support efforts to develop and strengthen AEL activities across the state, including high school diploma 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 their high school diploma, earn industry-recognized credentials and gain digital literacy.
The Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers and communities thrive economically. To learn more about TWC and its services (in conjunction with a network of local workforce development boards), call 800-628-5115 or visit https://twc.texas.gov/. Subscribe to email updates to receive notifications about TWC programs and services.
Potter County business receives $2.7 million in dividends from Texas Mutual
AUSTIN — Texas Mutual Insurance Company, a policyholder-owned company and the state’s largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance, has paid $350 million in dividends to about 70,000 Texas businesses, representing 91 percent of its policyholders, the company announced in a news release.
In Potter County, 461 businesses will receive a total of $2.7 million in dividends, which the company says will allow these local businesses to reinvest the money back into their own businesses and communities.
“Texas Mutual’s dividend program gives us the opportunity to share our financial success with businesses across the state who are committed to keeping Texans at work safely,” said Ron Simmons, chairman of the Texas Mutual board of directors. “This year’s dividend distribution of $350 million will have a meaningful, 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 for Texas Mutual’s generosity and continued support through their dividend program,” said Kim Dryden, risk advisor and partner at NCW Risk Management. “Through these dividends, local businesses have the tools they need to promote workplace safety.”
Texas Mutual paid its first dividend in 1999. This year marks the 26th consecutive year of the dividend program, giving back more than $4.4 billion to Texas businesses. To learn more about Texas Mutual’s dividend program, visit texasmutual.com/ownershippays.
