Atlanta’s push to prepare neighborhoods and small businesses for the economic wave expected from the FIFA World Cup received another major boost, as Wells Fargo announced $2.8 million in new philanthropic investments across metro Atlanta.
The investments include a $550,000 grant to support Invest Atlanta’s BizLabs Technical Assistance Program and a $2.25 million grant to the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta for housing stability initiatives.
The announcement was made during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Kindred Paper, a Black-owned greeting card and lifestyle goods company that opened a new downtown pop-up storefront through support from Invest Atlanta and Atlanta Downtown on May 4.
The BizLabs program provides technical assistance, mentorship and business development support for small businesses across Atlanta. Officials said the funding will also help activate storefronts downtown as the city prepares for increased tourism and economic activity during the World Cup.
Mayor Andre Dickens said the investment reflects a broader commitment to equitable economic development.
“Wells Fargo’s substantial and consistent investment in Atlanta reflects a meaningful commitment to our city and our people,” Dickens said. “By supporting the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative through strengthening housing stability and uplifting small businesses, this funding helps to build more resilient neighborhoods and ensure Atlanta’s economy benefits all residents. We look forward to the continued impact this partnership will make in the years ahead.”
Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation have invested more than $40 million philanthropically in metro Atlanta since 2021.
The housing portion of the funding will support efforts to address some of metro Atlanta’s most persistent housing challenges, including tangled title issues, home repair financing, affordable housing preservation and support for emerging developers.
Frank Fernandez, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, said the investment is aimed at helping families remain in their homes despite growing financial pressures.
“Across metro Atlanta, too many families are at risk of losing the homes they’ve worked hard to build, not because they lack commitment, but because of legal, financial, and systemic barriers,” Fernandez said. “This investment helps remove those barriers so people can stay in their homes, make needed repairs, and pass on what they’ve built. As the region’s philanthropic center of gravity, we’re working alongside partners to turn housing stability into something families can count on and a foundation for stronger, more equitable communities.”
The announcement also comes as corporations and nonprofits increase volunteer and redevelopment efforts tied to the city’s FIFA preparations. Wells Fargo employees recently volunteered during the Habitat for Humanity Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project at Langston Park, where the company served as a key partner and platinum sponsor in the construction of 24 affordable homes.
As part of the company’s long-term partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Wells Fargo employees joined volunteers and future homeowners to help build homes in the neighborhood.
“Wells Fargo has been working with Habitat for Humanity for over 30 years,” said Jason Rosenberg, Wells Fargo’s head of Public Affairs. “It is one of the longest-running corporate nonprofit partnerships in modern history. In the last 10 years alone, we have invested $100 million with Habitat for Humanity to support families and communities around the country.”
Rosenberg also emphasized Wells Fargo’s continued investment in Atlanta.
“Wells Fargo’s continued long-term commitment in Atlanta reflects our investment in the community,” Rosenberg said. “These philanthropic investments will support small businesses, strengthen neighborhoods and help advance growth for our customers, employees and communities throughout the city.”
These grants build on a previous $20 million Open for Business Fund investment, announced in 2022 through a partnership between Wells Fargo, United Way of Greater Atlanta and Invest Atlanta aimed at supporting small business growth across the city.
