Northampton Community College (NCC) has received a $20,000 Empowerment Grant from The Provident Bank Foundation (PBF). This is the inaugural year for the grant, and NCC is the first community college to be awarded the grant.

The Empowerment Grant program, PBF’s core funding opportunity, is designed to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of high-impact nonprofits serving communities in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Grant partners are selected for two years of flexible funding support based on their proven ability to deliver meaningful, measurable change within the Foundation’s priority areas: Education, Human Services, and Workforce Development.

The Empowerment Grant from The Provident Bank Foundation will allow NCC to launch a program aimed at removing the obstacles that prevent students from accessing a quality education, said President of NCC, David A. Ruth, Ph.D.

The grant allows NCC to launch Its “Tools of the Trade” program, which provides emergency funding for students who need assistance purchasing equipment, supplies and tools for their programs of study that are not covered in tuition.

Vice President and Executive Director of The Provident Bank Foundation, Samantha Plotino, said, “We are proud to partner with organizations that are leading transformative work in their communities, particularly those addressing systemic barriers to opportunity, to help ensure that all individuals have the resources and support to thrive.”

Established in 2003 by Provident Bank, The Provident Bank Foundation (PBF) supports nonprofit organizations in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania that are building strong, inclusive communities. Through grants focused on education, human service and workforce development, PBF invests in programs that expand access to opportunity and promote economic self-sufficiency. Since its founding, PBF has awarded more than $30 million in funding to organizations driving meaningful, community-rooted change.