Spokane, Washington, October 14, 2020 – The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) is proud to announce that the Running Start for Careers initiative has been voted the winner of FHLB’s Strong Communities Award urban division.

Spokane Community College (SCC)’s Running Start for Careers program offers local high school students the chance to complete their college-level vocational training while still in high school. Through the program, a local high school junior can earn their high school diploma while getting the training and certifications necessary to start a career in automotive maintenance or another vocational field. The Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation’s Running Start for Careers initiative is raising money to help students cover the student cost of the program. The project is supported by BECU, a FHLB Des Moines member.

“BECU is a proud partner of the Strong Communities Award and the Running Start for Careers initiative, and we look forward to seeing the positive difference this award will make in our local community,” said Steve Hauschild, BECU’s Spokane Market Leader.

"We are extremely excited to be named the winner of the Strong Communities Award,” said Dr. Kevin Brockbank, President of Spokane Community College. “This award will allow us to help many students get a college vocational degree and start their careers. We are very humbled and grateful for the support from our community. It made all the difference.”

This annual award honors the projects, people and programs that promote local small business growth and retention. Winners were determined through a public voting process which ran from October 5 through October 9, 2020.

“When our internal panel was narrowing the list of finalists, we were impressed with the Running Start for Careers initiative and its mission,” said Kris Williams, president and chief executive officer, FHLB Des Moines. “We are excited to be able to support this project as it reflects the commitment of FHLB Des Moines to finding ways to improve their member communities.”

The first-place winner in the rural division was Gowrie Market (“Market on Market”). To learn more about the projects and see the full list of finalists, visit www.fhlbdm.com/award.

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The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines is a member-owned cooperative that provides funding solutions and liquidity to nearly 1,350 financial institutions to support mortgage lending, economic development, and affordable housing in their communities. Serving 13 states and three U.S. Pacific territories, FHLB Des Moines is one of 11 regional banks that make up the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Members include community and commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, thrifts, and community development financial institutions. The Des Moines Bank is wholly owned by its members and receives no taxpayer funding. For additional information about FHLB Des Moines, please visit www.fhlbdm.com. Follow us on Twitter (@FHLBDM) and visit us on Facebook and LinkedIn. 
 

Learn more about the Running Start for Careers Initiative right here on our website.