Merchants Bonding Company™ Foundation Donates $90,000 for Skilled Labor and Surety Education

The Merchants Bonding Company™ Foundation is proud to announce the donation of $90,000 to fund scholarships supporting the ongoing relationship between construction and surety. Made in honor of Merchants’ 90th anniversary, the donations were directed to two organizations; the Associated General Contractors (AGC) Education and Research Foundation and The Surety Foundation, the charitable organization of the Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA). 

In light of the construction industry’s continuing shortage of skilled laborers, Merchants selected the AGC’s Foundation to receive $60,000. Their Workforce Development scholarships support students pursuing craft and technical programs which result in careers in the trades. 

The Surety Foundation received $30,000 for the Surety & Fidelity Intern and Scholarship program which encourages diverse college students to consider the surety and fidelity industry as their career of choice. The program gives underrepresented college students the opportunity to work with industry experts through paid professional internships with SFAA member organizations, and to earn scholarships for their education. 

Merchants Bonding Company President Larry Taylor, who also serves as President of The Surety Foundation, sees both of these donations as a meaningful way to celebrate the company’s anniversary theme of ‘Yes to the Best’, “Ongoing improvement through education and training is one of Merchants’ core values so we saw this as the perfect opportunity to not only honor our past, but support the future by saying yes to the best of the next generation.”

Go to AGCFoundation.org to learn more about Workforce Development Scholarships. 

Applications accepted March 1 – June 1, 2023.

For more information about the SFAA Foundation’s scholarship program, go to thesuretyfoundation.org. 

Merchants Bonding Company was founded in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1933 and is led by fourth generation family members. The company ranks among the top surety providers in the United States and is number one in Iowa. Merchants Bonding has had an “A” (Excellent) rating or better from AM Best since 1958.

For More Information: 
Therese Wielage 
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Merchants Bonding Company
www.merchantsbonding.com
515-243-8171