Building Equity & Economic Opportunity: Celebrating the Impact of Clark County’s Community Reinvestment Project

For too many families in Clark County, financial stability feels out of reach. With 33% of households struggling as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) – including disproportionate numbers of Black, Latine, and Tribal community members – systemic barriers have created persistent wealth gaps. But through the Community Reinvestment Project, we're seeing what happens when communities are given the tools and resources to thrive.

A Transformative Investment

Funded by Washington's Department of Commerce and implemented by United Ways of the Pacific Northwest in partnership with six local United Ways, this initiative directs resources to communities most impacted by the war on drugs. The project takes a two-pronged approach:

1. Individual Development Accounts (IDAs):

   • 20 participants received $125,000 in matched savings (2:1 match up to $10,000 per person)

   • 100% of participants met their goals – from buying homes to starting businesses, paying for education, or repairing debt

   • "This program didn't just change my finances – it changed my family's future," shared one participant

2. Community Grants:

   • $66,666 awarded to 10 grassroots, by-and-for organizations serving Black, Latine, and Tribal communities

   • Grantees like Latinos Unidos y Floreciendo and NAACP's ACT-SO program are addressing systemic inequities through mentorship, financial wellness programs, and racial justice initiatives. A full list of grantees is below:

     • Boys2Men Mentoring - Amount: $6,500  

     • Fourth Plain Forward  - Amount: $6,500  

     • Latinos Unidos y Floreciendo (LUYF) - Amount: $6,500  

     • Multilingual Community Association - Amount: $6,500  

     • NAACP - Racial Justice Police Misconduct Clinic - Amount: $6,750  

     • NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) - Amount: $6,500  

     • Save First Financial Wellness  - Amount: $6,500  

     • Shifted Theory - Amount: $6,500  

     • Support for Early Learning & Families (SELF) WA  - Amount: $6,417  

     • The Foundation WA - Amount: $8,000

Breaking Down the ALICE Crisis

The need is stark:

• A family of four in Clark County needs $98,796 just to cover basic expenses

• Childcare alone can push that budget over $120,000

• Black and Latine households face the highest ALICE rates by percentage

Financial Literacy as a Foundation

The project went beyond dollars, offering:

• Credit-building workshops with Northwest Native American Asset Building Coalition

• Money Move$ Mixers providing one-on-one financial coaching

• Culturally-responsive training through partners like Owesta

"Financial literacy is about empowerment," noted a partner with NAYA. "When people understand systems, they can rewrite their financial narratives."

Looking Ahead

While we celebrate these wins, the work continues. The success of the IDA program demonstrates the power of matched savings, while the community grants show how trusting grassroots leaders creates lasting impact.

You can help build on this momentum:

• Advocate for policies that address wealth disparities

• Support by-and-for organizations in your community

• Share this story to highlight what's possible with targeted investment