Over the last twenty-five years, Project ARRIBA has worked to create a pathway to the middle class for a population living in poverty. Through public and private partnerships, our workforce development efforts have connected 1,850 El Pasoans seeking a higher education through long term training, local employers needing a skilled workforce, and training providers needing help retaining at-risk/underserved students. As a result, Project ARRIBA has achieved an 80% 3-year persistence rate, a 60% 3-year graduation rate, and an 83% job placement rate from 1999 to present. Moreover, job placed graduates in 2022 are earning over $52,000/year and no longer depend on government subsidies but are filling demand occupations as essential healthcare workers.

Per a 2021 impact study by the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness, Project ARRIBA has added $893.30 million in value to the El Paso economy in future earnings of program graduates. Moreover, Project ARRIBA has supported $31.699 million in total investment over the life of the program which implies a cumulative benefit-cost ratio of $28.18 for every $1.00 invested!

Supporting postsecondary education programs in this sector is critical to strengthening our workforce’s response to the recent COVID-19 pandemic and will help mitigate future staffing shortages. Equally important, supporting postsecondary education programs for an adult population that need additional resources to access meaningful employment is critical to their economic success and our local economy.

Project ARRIBA’s model employs an intense case management approach and wrap-around support services or need-based aid needed to mitigate socioeconomic barriers for students in training. Critical support services include, but are not limited to, assistance with tuition, textbooks, school materials, childcare, emergency rent/utilities, public transportation, licensing exams, tutoring support, and other assistance as needed. This support promotes job training success and increases academic retention and graduation rates.

Your investment in any amount will be leveraged with other public and private funds to serve 450 adults training at El Paso Community College, the University of Texas at El Paso, and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center for locally demanded occupations that will lead to great economic mobility for a population currently living in poverty.