Wells Fargo invests $300,000 in LISC Jacksonville’s Project Boots initiative to expand homeownership opportunities
Jacksonville, Fla.— Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Jacksonville has received a $300,000 grant from Wells Fargo to expand Project Boots, the organization’s homeownership and family wealth-building initiative that helps Jacksonville residents prepare to purchase a home and build long-term financial stability. LISC Jacksonville and Wells Fargo leadership celebrated the grant during a check presentation at a Wells Fargo branch on Oct. 15, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the vacant lot of a future Project Boots home in the Historic Eastside neighborhood.
The grant funding will support additional Project Boots cohorts, providing aspiring homeowners with comprehensive homeownership education, financial coaching and connections to lending and real estate professionals. Eligible participants who successfully complete the program may also receive down payment assistance to help make homeownership more attainable.
LISC Jacksonville is actively recruiting for the next Project Boots cohort, which will commence in January 2027. Applicants must be committed and be prepared to invest intellectual, financial, and social capital to help strengthen LISC-supported neighborhoods.
Since launching in 2021, Project Boots has become one of Northeast Florida’s signature homeownership initiatives, helping working families prepare to purchase a home while building the financial knowledge and stability needed for long-term success.
“Wells Fargo’s investment is an investment in Jacksonville families and the future of our neighborhoods,” said Dr. Irvin ‘PeDro’ Cohen, executive director of LISC Jacksonville. “Project Boots helps people achieve more than homeownership. It provides the education, confidence and support needed to build wealth, create stability and leave a lasting legacy for future generations. We are grateful to Wells Fargo for joining us in expanding opportunities for more families across our community.”
The grant will allow LISC Jacksonville to increase the program’s reach while strengthening partnerships with lenders, housing professionals and community organizations working to expand access to sustainable homeownership.
“The path to homeownership can be complex, and access to trusted guidance matters,” said Sylvia Jones, Senior Assistant Vice President Community Impact at Wells Fargo. “Project Boots helps aspiring homeowners build knowledge and financial readiness before purchasing a home. We support LISC Jacksonville’s efforts to expand access to the education and coaching that can help more residents navigate that journey.”
Participation in Project Boots spans 10 months, during which participants complete a series of trainings covering budgeting, credit, mortgage readiness, financial planning, home maintenance and other areas. LISC Jacksonville and community subject-matter experts lead the sessions, providing education, guidance and individualized support.
For more information about Project Boots or upcoming enrollment opportunities, contact Dr. Melissa Noland Chester at mchester@lisc.org.
About LISC Jacksonville
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) helps residents transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy, sustainable communities that are good places to live, work and play. Since 1999, LISC Jacksonville has invested nearly $500 million in urban core neighborhoods, including developing affordable housing as well as retail and community space, and helped create more than 3,000 jobs. For more information about LISC Jacksonville, visit www.lisc.org/jacksonville.