ReliaTech To Create 76 jobs in Richmond with Chevron’s Support

Chevron California Partnership grants $159,190 to expand ReliaTech job-creating social enterprise

November 2011– Richmond, CA. It’s not often that the impact of a social enterprise can be measured directly, especially in terms of return on investment (ROI). Chevron’s investment in the Stride Center’s green social enterprise, ReliaTech, shows how an innovative nonprofit business can provide a strong ROI, both in terms of earnings, and of impact on the community and environment.

Chevron awarded $159,190 to ReliaTech to implement a new business plan that will create 76 permanent and temporary green jobs in the city of Richmond in 2012, at a cost of just under $2100 per job. The new employees will work in ReliaTech’s new Refurbishing, Recycling and Distribution Center, and in the new ReliaTech Neighborhood Technology Center, both in Richmond. These jobs will go to current students and recent graduates of the Stride Center’s nationally-recognized program that trains, certifies, and finds jobs in technology for low-income adults. The program has also been recognized for keeping thousands of tons of toxic waste out of landfills through zero-landfill recycling.
In addition, Chevron’s grant will fund ReliaTech’s Jump Start program which provides free computers, training, and support to low-income Richmond entrepreneurs, in order to help them start or grow their small businesses. Each Jump Start Grant is valued at more than $1,200.

ReliaTech’s CEO, Ben Delaney, was thrilled by the Chevron Grant. “This is the largest grant ReliaTech has ever received, and validates our new business plan and years of effort,” he said. “We really appreciate Chevron’s generosity in giving back to the Richmond community and to ReliaTech. We will carefully use these funds to expand our efforts as a triple bottom line business: People, Planet, and Profit. Thanks to Chevron, we will be able to:

• Increase our positive impact on People – the citizens of Richmond,
• Protect the Planet – by keeping e-waste out of landfills and by re-using thousands of computers, and
• Earn Profits that are channeled back into the Stride Center’s great programs.”

About ReliaTech

ReliaTech serves chronically underserved communities in the Bay Area by providing computer repair by certified technicians at below-market prices. They guarantee all of their work and provide free diagnostics, as well as a “no fix, no fee” pledge. ReliaTech also refurbishes computers which are provided at low or no cost to families, nonprofit organizations, schools, churches and senior centers throughout California. Their refurbishing and e-waste recycling programs prevent more than 500 tons of e-waste from being dumped in landfills every year. Their new facility in Richmond will responsibly recycle 35 tons of e-waste per month, while refurbishing as many as 10,000 computers annually.

About the Stride Center

The Stride Center is a social venture nonprofit empowering economic self-sufficiency for individuals and communities in the San Francisco Bay Area.  It harnesses the power of technology to help men, women and families on the road to self-sufficiency and independence. The Stride Center operates five training locations in the Bay Area and Sacramento, and will graduate close to 600 IT professionals in 2011.
For more information on the Stride Center, call 510 234-1300, email info@stridecenter.org, or visit their website at www.stridecenter.org. to learn more about ReliaTech, call 510 236-7000, email info@reliatech.org, or visit www.reliatech.org.