CARRBORO, N.C. (Feb. 12, 2022) – On a bright, sunny Saturday morning, El Centro Hispano unveiled its new ToolBank program.
Many community members and elected leaders were on hand to cheer and celebrate the program’s joyous launch. As part of the ToolBank program, workers enrolled in El Centro Hispano's Casa for Employment & Leadership (CEL) Program will be able to rent professional tools and equipment at a minimal cost. The Town of Carrboro financially supports the program’s operations as well as the Carrboro office of El Centro Hispano.
ToolBank allows registered CEL workers to take better-paying jobs which require them to bring their own tools. Currently, the ToolBank rents 40 tools including leaf blowers, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, weed whackers, pressure washers and others.
In 2015, El Centro Hispano became the first day laborer employment center created in the South. Day laborers are hard-working men and women in our community who find work to support their families. El Centro Hispano protects and defend the rights of these vulnerable workers and connects them with reliable employers who will pay a fair wage.
The shed was ushered into reality by tireless local volunteer Marilyn Alexander. Volunteer workers donated their time and talent to construct the shed which will house the tools. The ToolBank was sponsored in part by a grant from PNC Bank. The Town of Carrboro financially supports CEL’s operations as well as the Carrboro office of El Centro Hispano.
El Centro Hispano connects small businesses and town residents with skilled workers in the fields of construction, plumbing, landscaping, domestic work, moving, yard work, and painting.
Specials guests attending the event included Damon Seils (Mayor), Richard White III (Town Manager), John Hartman-Brown (Economic Development Director) of the Town of Carrboro, Randee Haven-O'Donnell (Carrboro Town Council Member), Aaron Nelson (President, Chamber of Commerce Chapel Hill-Carrboro), John (J.B.) Buxton (President), Jaclyn Krohn and Constanza Gómez-Joines of Durham Tech, Lori Jones (PNC Bank) and Marilyn Alexander (Carrboro resident and volunteer).
For more information on the Center for Employment and Leadership, call 919-945-0136.
