Groundswell Capital Unlocks Pathways for Arizona’s Skilled Trades as AHEAD Grant Awardee
- Dre Thompson
- 23 hours ago
- 2 min read
Southern Arizona is powered by builders, makers, and tradespeople whose skills shape the neighborhoods we live in. Yet for many aspiring contractors and small business owners—especially Latino, bilingual, and first-generation entrepreneurs—the path into the skilled trades can feel out of reach. High upfront costs, limited access to capital, and a lack of business training too often become barriers that stop talented people before they ever begin.
Thanks to a newly awarded FHLBank San Francisco AHEAD Grant, Groundswell Capital in collaboration with Vantage West Credit Union is breaking down those barriers and building a transformational pathway into licensed contracting and small business ownership. In 2025, we are launching an expanded version of Juntos, our program designed to help aspiring trades entrepreneurs gain the certifications, capital, and coaching needed to build thriving businesses.
Expanding Opportunity Through Juntos
In this next phase, Juntos will grow into a coordinated training-to-business pipeline that supports aspiring contractors from their first day of training through their first steps as business owners. With an expanded network of local partners, the program will combine workforce development, entrepreneurial education, and financial tools that help participants launch and sustain successful careers in the skilled trades.
The expanded program will include hands-on training, business development support, access to responsible capital, and culturally responsive coaching. Designed with our community in mind, Juntos will continue removing financial and systemic barriers that have historically kept many talented individuals—especially Latino and bilingual entrepreneurs—on the sidelines of opportunity.
Our Focus: Skills, Stability, and Ownership
Through a blend of training, mentorship, and financial empowerment, Juntos will help more Southern Arizona residents:
Gain skills that lead to in-demand careers
Take the steps to launch and grow a licensed business
Build financial stability and long-term economic mobility
Connect with a supportive network of peers, partners, and mentors
This program is not only about preparing people for jobs—it’s about helping families build lasting wealth through ownership, entrepreneurship, and equitable access to opportunity.
About Groundswell Capital
Groundswell Capital is a mission-driven lending nonprofit dedicated to sustainable economic growth, focusing on clean energy, small business financing, and community development. By aligning financial returns with environmental and social responsibility, Groundswell Capital is helping to shape a resilient and equitable future for Arizona.
For media inquiries, contact:
Dre Thompson
President,
Groundswell Capital