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Project ARRIBA, an El Paso workforce and economic development initiative, announced Friday that Paul Foster has donated $50,000 to the organization.

“The commitment Project ARRIBA has to workforce development in our region is outstanding,” said Foster, president of Franklin Mountain Management, LLC. “The organization has a proven track record of success with El Pasoans who need on‐the‐job skills to access in‐demand jobs. I applaud their efforts and want this donation to help ensure their successful work in the future.”

Foster’s investment will help fund training for 350 at-risk adults at El Paso Community College and the University of Texas at El Paso.  The funding, along with other public and private dollars, will enable the trainees to move into high-skilled, in-demand regional jobs in the healthcare industry.

“This significant investment came at a critical time for our organization,” said Roman Ortiz, Chief Executive Officer of Project ARRIBA. “Mr. Foster understands the importance of developing local talent through post-secondary education, and his investment will have a lasting impact on our organization and the El Paso region as it will return $1.2 million to the local community.”

Ortiz said the Foster gift falls into the same category as other program supporters such the Meadows Foundation, the Wolslager Foundation, the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and the Hunt Family Foundation.

Project ARRIBA’s workforce development efforts move individuals and their families out of poverty and into family-sustaining, living wage careers.  The program empowers those people with the education and skills needed to fill in-demand jobs in the Borderplex region so they no longer have to depend on government welfare programs.

Graduates of Project ARRIBA are adding $710.2 million dollars in income to the local economy and are estimated to pay an additional $171.31 million in taxes over the remainder of their work years due to their higher earning potential.  According to the program’s data, for every dollar invested in the program, $24 is returned back to the El Paso community.

To-date, 1,273 program graduates have attained a higher education and realized economic mobility and self-reliance.

Foster delivered the keynote address at Project ARRIBA’s 4th Annual Dinner and Fundraiser held on June 21, 2017.  Over $96,000 was raised at the event.