Freeport McMoran

Freeport-McMoRan Foundation awards $335,000 through the Globe-Miami Community Investment Fund

June 17, 2014
Copper Area

Recognizing organizations with a vision for a sustainable future in the areas of infrastructure, education, community/economic development, community services and cultural/historic preservation, the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation announced the 2014 Globe-Miami Community Investment Fund grant recipients on Thursday, June 5 at the Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum.  Nine area nonprofits were awarded a total of $335,000 at the presentation. 

The Globe-Miami Community Investment Fund was established in 2012 to focus on programs and projects that create a sustainable community benefit.  It is administered by a committee comprised of community leaders selected by the Globe-Miami Community Partnership Panel.  The Panel was also established by Freeport-McMoRan in 2012 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 issues. 

The Community Investment Fund Committee solicits and selects programs to receive financial support based on established criteria, and strives to assist in the success of recipient programs.

The 2014 grant recipients include:

Arizona Youth Partnership – $20,000
Funds will support the Building Futures for Families Globe/Miami Resource Center project in an effort to provide workforce development services to 150 unemployed or underemployed individuals in the Globe-Miami area. The program will work with individuals to help them become self-sufficient while overcoming employment barriers and strengthening family cohesion.

Cobre Valley Institute of Technology – $55,000  
This grant will provide transportation services for Globe and Miami High School students to participate in college-level career and technical education programs.  By making this service available, a barrier to accessing quality educational programs will be removed.  As more students participate in programming, additional revenue will be available to further enhance CVIT program offerings.

Gila County Housing Services – $10,000
Program funding will leverage dollars to assist with the completion of minor home repairs and adaptations that specifically assist elderly and disabled individuals, making their residences safer and allowing them to remain in their homes.

Gila County Canyon Water Improvement District – $50,000
This grant will allow the Canyon Water Improvement District to replace and repair aging pumps and infrastructure on a six mile long water system that provides 550 residents with potable water. Additionally, the organization will develop an operations and maintenance sustainability plan that will put in place appropriate management to ensure proper oversight of the system in the future.

Gila Community College – $50,000
Funds will be used to enhance the welding program at the Regional Training Center (RTC) by implementing a Virtual Reality Arc Welder simulator. In doing so, the RTC will be able to attract and engage more students in this high demand program. The simulator also reduces energy consumption, waste and scrap while providing tangible savings that can be used to further enhance important career and college ready program offerings at Gila Community College.    

Globe Unified School District – $38,500
This grant will provide every core content classroom with Learner Response System devices offering a powerful way to increase student engagement and improve learning. Providing teachers with tools to differentiate instruction for students creates a learning environment that allows for increased student achievement. 

Miami Genesis – $26,500
Funding will help the Miami Highway 60 Beautification project in its effort to inspire economic development and community pride via the enhancement of Highway 60 through the town of Miami.  The beautification of Highway 60 will create an aesthetically pleasing historic town identity, draw attention to the assets of the community and welcome visitors and residents alike to visit, shop and enjoy the Town of Miami. The project has the potential to serve as a catalyst for future sustainable economic development opportunities.

Miami Unified School District – $30,000
This grant will be used to transform teaching and learning by providing tablet computers to Miami Junior and Senior High School teachers. Increasing access to technology in the classroom supports enhanced educational opportunities for students with a focus on sparking their interest and performance in science and math.

Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporation – $55,000
Funds will be used for a wayfinding and signage project to help build a consistent brand for the region. By working collaboratively, the project will create a systematic, visually cohesive, graphic communication system for visitors and residents in the Copper Circle Region, providing both information and an improved sense of well-being, safety and security in both visitors and residents of the area. The project has the potential to increase the tax base in the region by highlighting the many local assets and amenities in a consistent and professional way.

“Freeport-McMoRan is committed to working with communities to identify effective partnerships that will bring lasting benefits to the people in greater Globe-Miami,” said Tracy Bame, President of the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation.

“Through the Globe-Miami Community Investment Fund, our goal is to continue to empower the community to take the lead in identifying and creating the kinds of programs and projects that will help generate sustainable benefits and shape the kind of community they want.  We extend our thanks to the members of the Investment Fund Committee and their commitment to increase the community’s capacity to create the community resources needed to ensure a viable future.  We also extend our gratitude to the many exemplary leaders and organizations with whom we are fortunate to work in the programs,” she said.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting Robin Horta at Robin_Horta@fmi.com or 928-473-7507. 

For more on our funding opportunities and the projects we support, visit us at ww.FreeportInMyCommunity.com.

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