2021 Owens Corning Sustainability Report | Expanding Our Social Handprint | Community Engagement | 242 Investments in Equity in the Toledo Area As noted in the Inclusion & Diversity chapter , Owens Corning’s commitment to equity extends beyond our internal initiatives to include investments in programs and organizations that are working to improve the quality of life for the people in our communities — especially those who are too often underserved. Owens Corning’s world headquarters is located in Toledo, Ohio, U.S., and many of our investments are intended to help make our hometown stronger and more equitable. In 2021, the Owens Corning Foundation made the following commitments to these organizations, each of which share our commitment to the people of this region. Local Initiatives Support Corporation Toledo In Toledo, families of color are half as likely as white families to own their own home. In an effort to close the racial wealth gap and expand homeownership opportunities, the Owens Corning Foundation has made a $1 million, multi-year commitment to Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Toledo, a community development financial institution. This commitment also supports Core City Rehabilitation projects, in which LISC collaborates with neighborhood partners to identify, acquire, and renovate homes throughout the downtown Toledo area. The homes are then sold to owner-occupants, which helps increase property values and stability in these communities. In addition, our commitment will fund efforts to grow the capacity of small contracting businesses owned by members of underrepresented groups and woman-owned contracting businesses, as well as invest in civic and community engagement projects. In 2021, work began on three Core City homes. One was completed in late December and is now on the market. The other two homes will be completed in the first quarter of 2022. The population of homeowners who benefit from the Core City effort project are 70% BIPOC, 57% female head of household, and have an average income of $41,000 per year. The Jeff Innovation Hub Another investment of $1 million will support workforce development at The Jeff, a new innovation hub located in our downtown. The Jeff will be operated by Bitwise Industries, a California-based tech company that focuses on connecting people from marginalized communities and systemic poverty to skills and resources necessary to access opportunity in the tech industry. Toledo Excel Toledo Excel is a scholarship incentive program to help underrepresented Toledo Public Schools (TPS) students succeed in college. The program connects with students, who receive mentoring, academic support, and wraparound services while they attend TPS high schools. Upon completion of the program, they receive four-year scholarships to the University of Toledo. Through a multi-year commitment, the Owens Corning Foundation has provided approximately $300,000 in scholarships for Toledo Public Schools students who participate in the program. In January 2021, Owens Corning hosted the organization’s 37th annual conference. Guest speakers at the event included Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to former President Barack Obama, and Sabrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin. Photo submitted by: Michele Mazza | Trophy Club, Texas, U.S. Mexican sage, Trophy Club, Texas.