Bank of America Invests $310,000 in Twin Cities Workforce Programs Through EMERGE and Genesys Works
Bank of America invested $310,000 in Minneapolis and St. Paul workforce programs in 2025, partnering with EMERGE Community Development and Genesys Works Twin Cities to connect adults facing systemic barriers and high school students from underserved communities with stable, livable-wage careers.
The economy runs on skilled workers. But for too many people in the Twin Cities, the path to a stable, meaningful career is blocked by barriers that have nothing to do with talent or drive. Bank of America is working to change that.
In 2025, Bank of America announced it has invested nearly $40 million nationally into U.S. workforce skills, job training, and career pathways, partnering with more than 100 universities, community colleges, and over 600 nonprofit organizations across the country. Here in Minneapolis and St. Paul, that commitment took the form of $310,000 invested into local workforce programs, including partnerships with two organizations that are making a measurable difference in people’s lives: EMERGE Community Development and Genesys Works Twin Cities.
Meeting people where they are
EMERGE Community Development has been a cornerstone of Minneapolis since 2007, focused on helping people facing racial and economic disparities access stable, meaningful employment. Their approach is anything but one-size-fits-all.
“Our goal is to walk alongside each participant, from first contact through employment, and make sure they have the tools and support to stay and grow in that job,” said Terra Majors, Executive Vice President of Programs at EMERGE.
The journey typically begins with an individualized assessment that takes into account not just skills and career goals, but real-life barriers like transportation, childcare, and prior justice involvement. From there, participants work with a career coach to build job-readiness skills, prepare for interviews, and access short-term training when needed. EMERGE places participants into industries with strong demand including healthcare, manufacturing, construction, and transportation with an average starting wage of $20.15 per hour in 2025.
This year, EMERGE expects to place roughly 600 individuals into jobs and serve more than 2,000 people through comprehensive workforce services, ranging from career training and work experience to financial wellness and stability support. That kind of scale demands more than a program. It demands trust, and flexible resources to respond when challenges arise.
“Bank of America’s flexible funding allows us to respond to what participants need to succeed,” said Jill Pearson-Wood, Vice President of Advancement at EMERGE. “Whether that’s transportation, work clothing, or additional coaching, we can act quickly without being constrained by funding guidelines.”
Launching careers before graduation
While EMERGE focuses on adults navigating systemic barriers, Genesys Works Twin Cities is investing in the next generation before they ever leave high school.
Genesys Works provides high school students from underserved communities with eight weeks of intensive summer training in technical and professional skills, followed by a paid, year-long internship at a corporate partner during their senior year. The program also offers college and career coaching, plus alumni support that can extend a decade or more beyond high school graduation.
During the 2024-25 program year, Genesys Works placed 288 high school and college interns into roles at companies like Ecolab, Medtronic, and Optum with positions concentrated in technology and business, including data analytics, cybersecurity, AI automation, and software development. The nonprofit partners with more than 50 high schools across the metro, drawing students from districts including Minneapolis Public Schools, St. Paul Public Schools, and Anoka-Hennepin Schools.
The long-term outcomes are striking. Ninety percent of Genesys Works graduates enroll in college within six months of high school graduation. Alumni are 2.6 times more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree within the expected timeframe compared to their peers, and those who are seven or more years out of the program report a median income of $70,000, with 75 percent earning more than at least one parent.
“By providing meaningful internships and mentorship, our partners help students gain the skills employers want and expand students’ perspective on what they can accomplish,” said Jeff Tollefson, Executive Director of Genesys Works Twin Cities.
A regional commitment, a national impact
Bank of America’s investment in these two organizations is part of a broader strategy to strengthen both the local workforce and the employers who depend on it. Nationally, workforce development partners estimate that Bank of America’s contributions helped approximately 86,400 workers connect to livable-wage jobs and gave 265,000 people access to training and career readiness programs.
In the Twin Cities, the impact is personal: a single mother placed into her first stable job, a high school senior from north Minneapolis coding at a Fortune 500 company, a young man who becomes the first in his family to earn a college degree.
“Investments in workforce development strengthen both Twin Cities employers who need skilled talent and the next generation of workers,” said Lucas Giambelluca, president of Bank of America Twin Cities. “By building career pathways with these local partners, we can help drive financial prosperity and economic growth for the Twin Cities and the nation.”
For more information on Bank of America, visit https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/our-company.
On EMERGE, visit https://emerge-mn.org/.
On Genesys Works, visit https://genesysworks.org/.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com.