Mayor Mason’s administration has made tackling longstanding disparities and inequities a priority. The City has spent the last 2.5 years building partnerships and growing programs that will help address disparities in our residents’ educational attainment, access to careers in the trades, financial stability, homeownership, and home enhancement and repair.
Thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the City has seized a once-in-a-generation opportunity to dramatically scale these programs and catalyze these investments in our residents and our community.
GROW Racine is the City’s way of saying directly to our residents: we believe in you, we believe you are worthy, and we believe in you and your family’s future. The GROW Racine effort is managed by the City’s Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Community Partnerships, Vicky Selkowe.
GROW Racine consists of the following major initiatives
Helping Adult City Residents Earn Their High School Degree
In the City of Racine, we want our residents to know that, whatever happened in the past does not have to prevent them from succeeding in the future. We’ve partnered with the YWCA SEW to invest in their highly successful 5.09 High School Equivalency Degree (HSED) program. And, for a limited time, we’re offering City of Racine HSED scholarships to help support City adults who enroll in and graduate from the 5.09!
Start a Career in the Trades
The building & construction trades provide great career paths, with family-supporting jobs and upward mobility. The City of Racine wants to help ensure that our residents have access to education, training, and supportive placements to explore and launch careers in the trades. The City is proud to partner with WRTP/Big Step and the Racine Family YMCA to help our residents complete pre-apprenticeship training and education. And, for a limited time, the City is offering Pre-Apprenticeship Scholarships to help support residents who enroll in and complete these partners’ programs.
Become Financially Empowered
When it comes to money and finances, we all could use some coaching. That’s why the City of Racine launched the Racine Financial Empowerment Center (FEC). In partnership with Housing Resources, Inc., the Racine FEC offers all City of Racine residents professional, confidential, 1:1, financial counseling for FREE. Whether you want to improve your credit score, build up your savings, tackle your bills and debts, learn how to budget, get connected to resources to help meet your needs, or access safe & affordable banking products, the Racine FEC’s certified financial counselors can help you with any or all of that, and more!
Repair & Enhance Your Home
The City of Racine believes everyone deserves a safe and habitable place to live, and we want to support homeowners in investing in their homes. We’ve created new programs to help homeowners fix up and re-invest in their homes.
Today is #EarthDay2024. We should all take a step back and think about all the things we could be doing to make our planet a better place. ... See MoreSee Less
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Photos from City of Racine Financial Empowerment Center's post ... See MoreSee Less
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Juneteenth is right around the corner!
Please check out our Juneteenth webpage for information on:
🔴 Sponsorship Opportunities - if you’re an organization/business, please consider sponsoring a Juneteenth event and/or getting an advertisement in the souvenir booklet.
🟡 Vendor Applications - if your organization/business would like to be a vendor for the Juneteenth Day Celebration, please review and submit a vendor application.
🟢 Sneaker Ball 3.0 - Tickets can be purchased online or at the PRCS Main Office, Bryant Center, or King Center.
To view the webpage, click here: www.cityofracine.org/ParksRec/Events/Juneteenth/ ... See MoreSee Less
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Applications are now available for youth ages 16-24 who are interested in being a part of the paid summer internship program with the City of Racine! Click the link here to find out more! forms.gle/SEaJH18ACF7CQf718Applications are now OPEN for the Summer 2024 City of Racine Youth Employment Program! Please click the link below to apply or scan the first QR code to apply 😄!
Direct Link: forms.gle/SEaJH18ACF7CQf718 ... See MoreSee Less
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For all K-6 students at the following schools!Is your child who is enrolled as a Julian Thomas Elementary School, Knapp Elementary or Mitchell Elementary School student interested in having their drawing in a calendar? Apply to the FEC Financial Literacy Month Calendar Art Contest for a chance to be featured! Reach out to Dina Knibbs at 262-636-9488 for any questions or concerns. ... See MoreSee Less
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Reach out to the financial advisors at the City of Racine Financial Empowerment Center to learn more about financial literacy!Did you know that April was Financial Literacy Month? Take the time to celebrate and come on down to the FEC to take advantage of our free, confidential financial help for all City of Racine residents! Learn more at racinefec.org. ... See MoreSee Less
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