RIVERSIDE, CA — Growing Inland Achievement (GIA), a regional nonprofit focused on improving education and economic mobility in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, has been selected as a 2025 Bank of America Neighborhood Builder. The award includes $200,000 in flexible funding over two years and leadership development training. 

The grant will support the launch of GIA’s Business Education Network (BEN), a cross-sector effort to improve alignment between education and workforce systems and strengthen career-connected learning across the Inland Empire. 

The announcement was first shared publicly at GIA’s Toward a Shared Vision Summit on October 29, where Cathy Paredes, Senior Vice President and Inland Empire Executive at Bank of America, announced the 2025 awardees. Paredes presented ceremonial checks to Growing Inland Achievement and Never Stop Grinding, the second Inland Empire recipient of the 2025 award.

“We’re honored to be recognized as a Neighborhood Builder and grateful for Bank of America’s continued partnership,” said Dr. Ashish Vaidya, President & CEO of Growing Inland Achievement. “This investment strengthens our ability to build the Inland Empire Business Education Network and deepen collaboration between education and industry. Together, we’re working to ensure more students have access to meaningful career pathways and economic opportunity.” 

The Business Education Network is a central initiative in GIA’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, developed in response to feedback from employers and educators across the region. Over the next two years, the grant will help launch and scale the BEN by: 

• Bringing together education and industry leaders to identify shared priorities 
• Expanding access to work-based learning and internships 
• Supporting durable skills training in partnership with college and career centers 
• Strengthening early career exploration in K–12 schools 

Through the BEN and related efforts, GIA expects to directly support over 275,000 students, with a focus on low-income, first-generation, and historically underrepresented populations. 

“Bank of America is proud to support organizations like GIA that are addressing key barriers to economic mobility,” said Cathy Paredes, Senior Vice President, Bank of America. “This investment will help more Inland Empire students gain access to the education and experience needed for a strong start in the workforce.” 

Bank of America has selected 35 local nonprofits across the Inland Empire for its Neighborhood Builder program since 2004. In addition to the Neighborhood Builder program, Bank of America has awarded $10 million in grants to Inland Empire nonprofits since 2020 and its employees have volunteered over 100,000 hours to local causes.

About Growing Inland Achievement 

Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) is a regional nonprofit working to increase educational attainment and economic mobility across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Through collaboration, research, investment, and advocacy, GIA supports systems-level strategies that connect education to opportunity across the cradle-to-career continuum. Learn more at www.inlandempiregia.org