Our commitment to being good neighbors has never been more important as our country weathers this challenging time. The United States is experiencing a jobs crisis. We’re faced with 9.1% unemployment – which increases to 11.3% in the Hispanic community and nearly doubles in the African-American community, 16.7%. Many are starting to lose hope in the American dream.

At Starbucks we’re committed to doing our part to help accelerate job growth in the United States through our stores. We hire about 200 partners per day in the country, and we plan to hire about 70,000 partners in all by the end of 2011. And we’re planning to add 200 new stores and remodel more than 1,700 stores in the United States over our next fiscal year. These efforts may create approximately 2,000 full and part-time jobs across the country.

While our business contributes to the communities we serve, we recognize that in this time of crisis, we can and must do more – especially when the small business community, where Starbucks has its roots, is so challenged.

That’s why Starbucks has teamed up with the Opportunity Finance Network® (OFN) to create and sustain jobs. We call it the Create Jobs for U.S.A. Program. It will provide capital grants to select Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). The CDFIs will provide financing to underserved community businesses which include small business loans, community center financing, housing project financing and microfinance.

We’ve seeded this project with a $5 million contribution from the Starbucks Foundation. You can join us in this effort by donating. To recognize your support of the initiative, when you contribute $5 or more you’ll receive a red, white and blue wristband with the message “Indivisible”. Donations will be accepted at Starbucks company-operated stores and online starting on November 1, 2011.

To learn how you can get involved, join us at www.createjobsforUSA.org.

 

• Responsibility .
  • Community .
    • Create Jobs for USA