The Amarillo residential area is home to a population of over 250,000. Originally named Oneida, Amarillo is located in the Llano Estacado region. It was once recognized as the “Helium Capital of the World” and is also commonly called “The Yellow Rose of Texas”. Amarillo is recognized as the Texas Panhandle economic center, as well as Eastern New Mexico and the Oklahoma Panhandle. To women, it provides promising opportunities to excel in their careers, and a welcoming community to settle in.
PATH Fund
Formerly known as Panhandle Prosperity, is a program that provides financial assistance to women in order to increase the economic stability and prosperity of the Texas Panhandle Region. It is directed by six local stakeholders: Amarillo Area Foundation, Amarillo National Bank, Baptist Community Services, FirstBank Southwest, First Capital Bank, and Happy Stake Bank. The PATH Fund encourages innovation across multifarious sectors whilst providing the necessary support, resources, and technical expertise in order to maintain financial stability within the Panhandle region. To learn more about this service, call (806) 376-4521, or visit https://www.amarilloareafoundation.org/path/
Texas Enterprise Fund
This organization was created to offer monetary assistance to women-owned businesses, with an aim to strengthen the Texas economy. Businesses that are aspiring to work on a new project such as the opening of a facility, or expansion are welcome to apply. In order to be eligible for the Texas Enterprise Fund, at least 75 full-time jobs must be created upon receiving the fund in urban areas, or 25 full-time jobs in rural areas. For more information, visit https://gov.texas.gov/business/page/texas-enterprise-fund
Texas Skill Development Fund
This is a work training program that offers local and customized training courses for women-owned businesses within the state. The mission of the Texas Skill Development Fund is to improve the skills and wages of its residents. This is achieved by cooperating with a range of businesses, public colleges, Workforce Development Boards, and economic improvement partners. This fund finances such training, and colleges administer the grants, whilst businesses create new work positions and increase the skillset of their current employees. For more information, visit https://www.twc.texas.gov/programs/skills-development-program-overview
Texas Panhandle Regional Development Corporation
A non-profit development service that is recognized within the U.S. Small Business Administration. The Texas Panhandle Regional Development Corporation has successfully created over 1,500 jobs within the Amarillo area and guaranteed over 150 credits worth around $65 million to women-owned small businesses. It minimizes a business’s financial costs, enables them to expand, as well as increase cash flow. For more information, visit: https://www.amarilloedc.com/tprdc, or contact them through https://www.amarilloedc.com/start-a-conversation?hsCtaTracking=da771007-aeb7-4c68-81c1-71400a1e1003%7C5b633a3a-b98f-4a6b-a557-4f7d781ea55b
Free Legal Advice Hotlines
A number of bar associations and legal help organizations offer free-of-charge legal hotlines as a way to better serve the community. Women of Amarillo are welcome to seek professional advice from lawyers who will recommend courses of action in accordance with their situation. To view a complete list of hotlines and services, visit https://www.sll.texas.gov/self-help/where-to-go-for-help/legal-hotlines/
- General Legal Questions – Legal Help of Northwest Texas Telephone Intake and Advice
Offers cost-free legal assistance by phone, and is available for qualifying Texan women who live within the area. The hotline is available on weekdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This hotline can be contacted through (888) 529-5277 and provides services in both English and Spanish. International interpreters are also available. For more information, go to https://internet.lanwt.org/en-us/gethelp/Pages/Centralized-Telephone-Intake.aspx
- Family Law – Access and Visitation Hotline
The Texas Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Division provides approach and visitation legal telephone number. This offers parents general legal information about matters in relation to family law, such as ownership, visitation, and child assistance. It is available from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. To access this hotline, call (866) 292-4636. Consultations are also available in Spanish. More information can be accessed through the following link https://txaccess.org/
- Family Law – Texas Advocacy Project
The Hope Line responds to a variety of legal issues, especially in regard to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. This hotline is provided by attorneys on weekdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To access the Hope Line, call: (800) 347-4673. More information can be found on https://www.texasadvocacyproject.org/free-legal-services/legal-phone-lines
- Other Specific Legal Issues – Equal Justice Center: Workers’ Rights and DACA Applications
Offers free legal assistance in regard to employment issues, such as overdue or low payment rates to women on low-income. Through this service, disadvantaged individuals are assisted with applying for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. To learn about your work rights, call: (800) 853-4028. For Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals application assistance, call: (888) 670-6854. Services are also available in Spanish. For more information, visit https://www.equaljusticecenter.org/legal-help/
The Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program
Assists pregnant women, new mothers, and children become educated on the importance of healthy nutrition. It also offers women working on low-income, infants, and children assistance with accessing health care, and access to a range of health and social service organizations and programs. To access these services, call (806) 371-1119. More information about the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program can be accessed through texaswic.org