El Paso, TX — DreamSpring, a nonprofit lender dedicated to increasing access to capital for small business owners, has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Electric Company Charitable Foundation (ECCF), the philanthropic arm of El Paso Electric. The funding supports DreamSpring’s work to drive economic development by helping underserved entrepreneurs start and grow businesses across West Texas and Southern New Mexico.
The ECCF announced its Spring 2025 grantees at a community celebration on Wednesday, May 28, awarding funds to 39 nonprofit organizations whose missions align with the foundation’s focus areas: education, economic development, and environmental stewardship.
“The Electric Company Charitable Foundation has been a longstanding partner of DreamSpring and our mission to advance economic opportunity through entrepreneurship,” says Amber Kani, Chief Engagement Officer at DreamSpring. “Their support is catalytic for local small business owners, employees, families, and entire communities. We are deeply grateful for their continued support and award this year.”
DreamSpring receives a $5,000 grant from ECC Foundation to support small business growth in West Texas and Southern New Mexico.
ECCF grants support a wide range of community initiatives, including STEM education and career readiness programs for youth, entrepreneurship training, job development, and sustainability efforts.
“Our community is full of visionaries who are creating opportunities, expanding access to resources, and protecting our environment,” says Robert Almanzán, president of the ECCF Board. “It’s our privilege to help power their work and be part of the momentum they’re building. Through these grants, we’re investing in efforts that uplift lives and strengthen the future of our region.”
El Paso Electric has supported DreamSpring for more than 20 years, investing in entrepreneurs whose businesses strengthen families, create jobs, and uplift communities. This grant is the latest chapter in a decades-long partnership based on a shared commitment to local entrepreneurship and economic development.
The Spring 2025 ECCF grant recipients include:
Armed Services YMCA of the USA
Big Brothers-Big Sisters of El Paso
Boys and Girls Club of Las Cruces
Boys and Girls Clubs of El Paso
Candlelighters of El Paso Area
Children’s Grief Center of El Paso
Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico Territory
Community en Accion
Cruces Creatives
DreamSpring
El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center
El Paso Youth Jazz Ensemble
Family Service of El Paso Inc.
Friends of Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument
Friends of Thomas Branigan Memorial Library
Frontera Land Alliance
GECU Foundation
Habitat for Humanity International
Insights-El Paso Science Center
Junior Achievement of Desert Southwest
LiftFund Inc.
Lydia Patterson Institute of the Methodist Church
Medical Center of the Americas Foundation
Mesilla Economic Development Alliance
Nature Friends
Paso Del Norte Charitable Foundation
Pioneers 21
Pro-Action
Project Arriba
Project Vida
Second Chance Wildlife Rescue
STTE Foundation
Fab Lab El Paso
Texas Tech Foundation
Wilderness Land Trust
Women’s Economic Self-Sufficiency Team Corp.
Women’s Fund of El Paso
Young Women’s Preparatory Network
Ysleta Education Foundation
To learn more about the ECCF, visit www.eccfoundation.org. Learn more about DreamSpring’s mission, business loan products, and resources supporting entrepreneurs at www.DreamSpring.org.
About DreamSpring
DreamSpring is a nonprofit Community Development organization and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lender dedicated to propelling individual and family economic mobility and community wealth-building by helping people start and grow small businesses. Founded in 1994, the organization provides rapid access to capital and customized wrap-around support to entrepreneurs and nonprofits in 27 states. To date, DreamSpring has issued more than 47,925 loans totaling over $582 million to small businesses that support an estimated 67,800 jobs. Learn more at www.DreamSpring.org.
