TOLEDO (July 8, 2020)— Today Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Toledo and Pathway Inc. announced the official opening of a new Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) at Pathway’s Hamilton Street office. The site—the first outside Center City Toledo—joins six locations already in the Toledo FOC Network that served more than 1300 clients in 2019.
FOCs provide one-on-one financial coaching services, employment coaching, and assistance accessing income supports to any Lucas County resident free of charge. Among the Toledo FOC network’s clients in 2019, 60% increased their income, with an average increase of $572 per month; 51% percent improved their credit score by an average of 39 points; and 39% were placed in jobs averaging $13 an hour.
“Study after study has backed the FOC model up and shown that clients make tremendous strides toward achieving financial stability when they receive multiple, integrated services from a dedicated coach,” said Shaulonda Jones, LISC Program Assistant. “We are excited to be able to serve more clients and deepen our engagement in metro Toledo by expanding the network outside the Center City.”
Two FOC coaches will be housed at the new Pathway site starting this week. The on-site FOC services join Pathway’s extensive list of existing programs, including the popular Brothers United fatherhood program, the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), the Professional and Individual Development (PAID) Program, and a variety of supports for senior citizens. “Pathway is missioned to provide a plethora of integrated services that promote self-sufficiency,” said Tomeka Rushing, Workforce Development Director. “The partnership with LISC and the support of Premier Bank will definitely increase the agency’s capacity to provide a holistic approach in promoting financial stability and creating realistic pathways to economic security.”
The launch of the new site was made possible in part by a donation from Premier (formerly First Federal) Bank. “We’re proud to support LISC in the launch of the new Financial Opportunity Center, at Pathway in Toledo,” said Tammy Moses, Assistant Vice President and Community Development Officer at Premier. “We truly appreciate the groups’ continued efforts to assist those throughout our community that are working to tackle all the facets of financial life—earning a steady pay check, budgeting, building good credit, and saving for education and retirement.”
Any Lucas County resident interested in setting up a free appointment with a financial coach at Pathway can do so by calling (419) 242-7304.
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About LISC
With residents and partners, LISC forges resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America – great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families. Since 1979, LISC has invested $22 billion to build or rehab more than 419,000 affordable homes and apartments and develop 70.3 million square feet of retail, community and educational space. In Toledo, LISC has focused on a comprehensive approach to community development, investing more than $130 million since 1990 to fuel economic opportunity and build stronger, healthier neighborhoods. For more information, visit www.lisc.org.
About Pathway Inc.
Pathway’s mission is twofold: to alleviate the immediate hardships of poverty and to help those in need get the skills and tools they need to thrive independently. We work to achieve this everyday through the provision of essential services: help with home maintenance and energy bills, in-home services for seniors and the disabled, job search assistance, job training, and classes, including GED completion. For more information, visit https://pathwaytoledo.org/.
About Premier Bank
Premier Bank operates 78 branches, 12 loan offices and 2 wealth offices in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Pennsylvania. Currently, 33 branches, 2 wealth offices and 11 loan production offices, including 1 in West Virginia, continue to operate as Home Savings Bank. First Insurance Group is a full-service insurance agency with ten offices in Ohio including James & Sons Insurance in Youngstown, Ohio. Premier Bank offers personalized service and a comprehensive range of financial solutions for consumers and commercial businesses. Equal Housing Lender. Member FDIC. For more information, visit https://www.yourpremierbank.com/.