United Way of the Midlands Invests in MLCDC

United Way of the Midlands (UWM) is making a significant financial investment in Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation (MLCDC; www.midlandslatinocdc.org) during the next two years, with $20,000 approved for the period of July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. These funds will be invested in new workforce development programs for low-income communities, including food processing and sewing training. A Community Development grant from Office of Community Services (DHHS) will match funds with the UWM grant to pay a full-time position.

The food processing program is going to be focused on educating participants about how to start a successful food business. It will start this month working in partnership with No More Empty Pots in North Omaha. Additionally, construction plans for the MLCDC’s commercial kitchen are in the process of being approved by Douglas County and the city of Omaha. The construction of Las Americas Kitchen Express will begin this fall and is expected to be fully operational in the spring of 2020. It will help low-income food entrepreneurs to formalize and grow their businesses by giving them the opportunity to become self-sufficient and create many new job opportunities for low-income people in their communities.

With the support of three designers who are MLCDC’s clients, the sewing program will also start this month, producing trained and work-ready entrepreneurs and employees for the Clothing Manufacturing Cooperative. Sewing training will be provided in the factory of Little Miss Fashion. MLCDC designed a curriculum which will include three levels of education, each lasting two months, along with microbusiness training.

Special thanks to the United Way of the Midlands for this important contribution that will allow MLCDC (www.midlandslatinocdc.org) to fulfill its mission of lowering the poverty level of the people in our community.