Workforce Development is Key to Tucson’s Economic Success

As employers across our region continue to face a tight labor market, rising skills requirements, and persistent gaps between education and the workforce, workforce development is no longer nice to have. It is the backbone of economic vitality—and here in Tucson, our future prosperity depends on a skilled, work-ready talent pipeline.

At Bank of America, we’ve seen firsthand how access to the right training and support in Tucson empowers individuals to succeed, which in turn helps our local businesses thrive. In fact, in 2025, our company invested nearly $40 million nationwide to expand workforce skills, job training and career pathways. These investments—made through more than 700 university and nonprofit partners—helped an estimated 86,400 people secure livable-wage jobs and provided 265,000 individuals with access to training, education and career readiness programs designed to prepare them for long-term success.

In 2025, Bank of America partnered with seven Tucson nonprofits, investing more than $161,000 in job skills programs that directly support our region’s employers. Longstanding Tucson partners such as Pima Community College and the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona advance workforce development through programs like PimaSTART (Success Through Advanced Reskilling & Training) and the Caridad Community Kitchen Culinary Job Training Program (CCKT). PimaSTART helps offset enrollment costs for individuals participating in accelerated workforce training programs, where graduates earn industry-recognized credentials that support direct workforce entry or reentry. CCKT provides culinary instruction alongside financial literacy, conflict resolution training, interview preparation, and wraparound support for individuals facing significant barriers to employment—including limited education, prior justice system involvement, low income or experiences with homelessness. Together, these programs are helping equip Tucson residents with the skills, credentials and the support needed to access stable employment while strengthening the region’s workforce pipeline.

These kinds of investments produce real economic returns. When local residents gain skills aligned with employer needs, businesses can hire locally faster, retain talent longer and grow more predictably. When job seekers secure higher-wage roles, they strengthen household stability, expand consumer spending and contribute to a more resilient regional economy. A strong workforce attracts and retains business investment, and in turn, increases our competitiveness as a community.

Beyond direct funding, Bank of America also supports local organizations through volunteerism, leadership training and our Student Leader® program, which connects community-minded students with local nonprofits for paid internships, all while gaining real-world experience.

As Tucson continues to grow, we must ensure that every resident, regardless of ZIP code, background, or circumstance, has a pathway into the modern workforce and family-wage jobs. The challenges Tucson employers face today won’t be solved by any one organization, but through sustained collaboration between businesses, educational institutions and community partners.

Bank of America is honored to stand alongside so many dedicated local leaders in this work. Together, we can strengthen our talent pipeline, accelerate economic mobility and build a more prosperous future for Tucson.