KeyBank Foundation Awards $24 million in 4-Year Grants to Small Businesses

KeyBank Foundation, the nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1969 and funded by KeyCorp, has just awarded its largest single philanthropic commitment to date -- a $24 million, four-year grant to help small businesses grow. The grant will benefit at least 1,000 startups and microenterprises across upstate New York.

Business Boost & Build Program

The grant is part of the KeyBank Business Boost & Build Program, powered by JumpStart, an educational media franchise for children consisting mostly of educational games, workbooks, videos, iPad apps, and other media. The goal is to serve at least 1,000 small businesses across Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany through technical assistance programs.

Growth of more than 2,500 small businesses

The program will help accelerate the growth of new companies, create jobs and prepare students to enter the workforce after high school. In addition, the program will help to increase the growth of companies owned by women and minorities. Of the growth of more than 2,500 small businesses and micro-enterprises affected by the program, the majority will be women or minority-owned businesses.

KeyBank, the primary subsidiary of KeyCorp, is a regional bank headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio and is the only major bank based in Cleveland. KeyBank is on the list of largest banks in the United States.

To learn more about how to qualify for a Key Bank Foundation grant, visit www.key.com/about/community/key-foundation-philanthropy-banking.jsp