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Category: Community News Community News
Published: 31 May 2019 31 May 2019

Grant County, NM, May 31, 2019 — Freeport-McMoRan is pleased to announce that $450,000 was awarded to 12 organizations by the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation as part of the 2019 Grant County Community Investment Fund process.

The organizations from Silver City and the Mining District received their monetary awards in May and will be recognized by members of the Community Investment Committee during visits to each recipient organization this year.

“Working in collaboration with a range of committed community partners, we’re continuing to focus on empowering citizens through opportunities to acquire a broad range of skills, education and leadership to foster community resilience and transformation that leads to sustainability,” said Tracy Bame, President, Freeport- McMoRan Foundation. “Things like vocational skills and educational attainment not only lead to healthier, higher standards of living but also are transferable beyond mining into other areas of the economy, while broader leadership abilities support resilience and self-governance that enable thriving communities post-mining.”

The Grant County CIF was established in 2011 to focus on programs and projects that help create sustainability and reduce dependency on any single industry. Eligible programs and projects include those in the areas of education, community and economic development, as well as health and wellness.

A committee comprised of community leaders, representing diverse organizations, and two Freeport-McMoRan representatives governs the Fund. The community leaders were selected by members of the Grant County Community Partnership Panel, a stakeholder engagement process established by Freeport-McMoRan in 2008 to foster open and ongoing dialogue with the community, allowing the company and the community to work together to develop thoughtful solutions that address community needs. Community Investment Funds were established to give leaders in communities where the company operates the opportunity to direct funds from the Freeport- McMoRan Foundation to address local priority issues.

Since the first dollars granted in 2012, the Grant County Community Investment Fund has invested over $3.6 million in locally identified projects affecting positive change in the community priority areas identified by CPP members.

The 2019 grant recipients are:

Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region Grant County One-to-One Mentoring Initiative – $25,000 The organization will expand the number of youth able to access quality, one-to-one mentoring relationships and provide professional match support to ensure the matches are sustained long-term, ensuring the greatest impact for the child, including an increase in positive attitudes, behaviors and academic advancement.

Cobre Consolidated School District STEAM Journey with Drones – $11,000 Students will participate in Extended Learning Time STEAM programming over the summer months, which will expose them to career opportunities as well as encourage them to complete high school and pursue additional education post-graduation to fill STEM career opportunities.

Community Partnership for Children CPC Links – $25,000 CPC will build the capacity of local child care centers through its shared service model, increasing enrollment in local child care centers by 25 percent and expanding quality child care options for Grant County residents.

County of Grant, New Mexico Stepping Up – $20,000 The Stepping Up project will create a framework, based on data, to address the high number of people with mental health and substance abuse disorders who are incarcerated. The diversion of these individuals to existing treatment options will significantly reduce the tax burden on the county.

FOUNDRY Makerspace Workshops and Forums – $15,000 Through the delivery of skill-building workshops and community forums, FOUNDRY will build the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Grant County with a goal to create three new businesses.

New Mexico State University Hospitality and Tourism Industry Training – $18,000 Training will make Grant County residents more employable by preparing them for entry level and mid-career jobs. It will also provide employees in the hospitality sector with tools to highlight community assets and resources, encouraging increased visitation by both residents and visitors. Through the work, local business will find both hiring and retention of employees easier.

NM Lions Crane Reading Program Literacy Reading Labs in Cobre Schools – $55,000 By offering individualized reading support in Cobre Consolidated School District elementary schools, students who need intervention will have the opportunity to raise their reading proficiency, a key indicator for overall academic success.

Silver City Mainstreet Main Street Plaza Phase II – $63,500 Improvements to Main Street Plaza will increase the number of individuals visiting downtown Silver City by allowing for more events and increasing access to the Big Ditch Park and trail system. The economy of Silver City will be strengthened by creating an opportunity to attract and retain visitors in the downtown area.

Silver Consolidated School District Career Tech Training - Makerspace Initiative – $135,000 A combination of built makerspace and laboratory infrastructure at Silver Consolidated School District schools, along with teacher professional development, will provide opportunities for students to explore real world skills and careers to encourage completion of high school and attainment of educational choices post-graduation.

Village of Santa Clara Splash Park Improvements – $22,500 The Village of Santa Clara will improve community infrastructure in public parks, increasing opportunities for healthy activities for children, youth and adults, while strengthening efforts to promote increased economic development activity in the Main Street area.

Virus Theater Summer Youth Theater – $10,000 Virus Theater's Youth Theater Workshop will develop leadership skills for participating youth and bring residents to Silver City's downtown for performances, increasing foot traffic and economic activity in the area.

Western New Mexico University Capacity Building for Family Engagement in Math Literacy – $50,000 WNMU will build the capacity of Grant County educators to engage families in education by implementing a model of professional development for Family Math Literacy Nights with a goal to increase student proficiency in math.

For more information about Freeport-McMoRan community investments and programs, go to FreeportInMyCommunity.com.