December 21, 2020 3:25 a.m.

NeighborWorks Umpqua is expanding its Financial Opportunity Center’s bilingual financial education offerings.

A release said the non-profit has received a $100,000 grant from Umpqua Bank to continue adapting its services to strengthen Oregon’s economic recovery.

The grant will directly support bilingual financial education through the Financial Opportunity Center’s in Josephine and Jackson counties. Two new positions, a bilingual customer navigator and bilingual financial coach will be hired to support services in Spanish for LatinX families negatively impacted by the pandemic and wildfires. The new staff will provide financial education to clients on savings, budgeting, banking, access to FEMA funding and more.

NeighborWork CEO Merten Bangemann-Johnson said the grant will advance financial equity by building the organization’s cultural and language-specific services.